I know I could just start calling banks and will do that if I don't get any good leads here, but thought I might save myself a few phone calls by asking the experts (you) for help.Any recommendations on bankers/lenders for long term financing would be greatly appreciated.

Find out about training,  support, E&O, splits/desk fees, duty times, leads, buying your own property,  etc. 

We're also in a super saturated market so I don't have leads in good deals.What do you guys think.He's saying either way we'd be partners in the deal, scenario 1 wouldn't be lending --> does this mean both of us would be on the deed etc?

Are you prepared to hold it for 6 months, a year, longer without it generating any revenue?

The return on investment you can generate with the remaining balance will be taxable.  

You can try going to your local REIA and asking around for the title company everyone uses (investor friendly) and give them a call.At AZREIA, we have two competing title agencies (Great American and Chicago) that offer all the leads you can ever want and more, for free.

I have gotten several leads for awesome rental properties, but have not been able to do anything as I can’t find an investor who will invest in a low dollar amount on a house.

Except bumping up your thread, I don't have much else to offer except to consider getting a generator so that your computers can continue working during a power outage. 

Then these baby steps will someday hopefully lead to a company like Amazon selecting Las Vegas for second headquarters, worth billions.

Why not generate cash by some other means in the meantime?