These strategies can help structure deals with minimal upfront capital.Before diving into any strategy, thoroughly research and educate yourself on the specific approach you choose.

What you could do is open up a new LLC for the refi where you and your JV partner (or your LLC & the JV partners LLC) have specific ownership percentages in the NEW entity. 

There are so many dynamics like specific location, size, square footage, type of home, ARV, utility hooks and a dozen other things.  

Some of the upgrades you mentioned (specifically the smart tech stuff) only help for new home buyers (window shoppers).

In this case, it ultimately depends on the specific policies of the apartment complex or landlord.Some landlords may consider the overall average credit score of both applicants, while others may require each individual applicant to meet the minimum credit score requirement on their own.

There are work arounds to save money but it's always property specific solutions. 

Pick one that is commenting on your specific situation and DM them.

If that person is an employee of one specific bank/lender, it's common for them not to have any idea which hits are "their" hits, and which come from Fannie Mae, since they only ever see the rate/fee schedule from the one place they work at, and they aren't typically labeled that way, it just says "2-4 unit cash out:" and lists the amount of the hit in basis points, without specifying from whence it came.

Propstream allows you to pull niche lists of homeowners that are tax delinquent, failed listings, high equity, or even in preforeclosure.

To find specific lenders I always recommend speaking with other investors in your market first.