You can certainly find those outside of a group - but usually if you work inside of your mentor's group you'll get to know people better and establish strong partnerships.  

We found the deal, analyzed it and I manage it for us at no extra cost to the partnership. 

Long term hold with everything split 50/50, including cash after refi.What are some ways of structuring this partnership?

Other Creative Methods Home equity — home equity loan or HELOC (home equity line of credit) (HELOC is renewable) — these loans are generally lower interest but the rates can fluctuate whiteout warning when things get bad Partnerships — you can cover each other’s weaknesses.

What did your partnership look like, just 50/50 split?

I entered into a 3-way partnership with two good friends of mine.

Based on the deal structures I'm familiar with, moving to an equity partnership is going to require an LLC and partnership agreement, a CPA to oversee the finances and disbursements, additional reporting, and additional communications and stakeholder management on my part. 

Never in a million years would I ever agree to anything like that in a partnership.  

I would be excited to hear how someone with limited cash/creidt, no hard money, and no private money, no partnerships were able to scale much faster than your plan. 

It sounds like you are creating a business partnership with your long term partner, whereby the two of you will share in the profits of the enterprise.