If that's the case, see if your parents or another relative would be willing to cosign on this first house to get you started.You can also look for an owner-financed deal, but they are harder to find and they typically want a larger amount up front.

Let him take equity as a partner (co-gp), let say 1% to 5% and he now is part of a syndication partnership. 

We went local up here in Alamosa, CO but we aren't happy with the service.

They worked together at a different real estate company, become friends, and started a company that is now a $5bn market cap public REIT.A lot of the syndications are partnerships with two co-founders (not including all the LPs that make them syndications).The thing with a partner is, it is very much like a marriage.  

Having parents co-sign for the loan (if possible) is such a powerful tool that I do not see used enough.You mentioned renting to college students?

This is the only property I own in Colorado and am curious what advantages I will have by putting it in an LLC outside of limiting my liability. 

I'd be open to discussing possible partnerships - financial, co-hosting, and/or otherwise. 

I tell our STR and Airbnb investors in Colorado that the audience for a response is not the just-departed guest at all.

Long term rentals are tough to cash flow unless I implement a co-living / rent-by-the-room strategy, which I've done before, but I'd prefer to not do again. 

Should I consider getting a co-signer, and how would banks treat potential rental income?