Here's the actual law on who needs to be licensed for what:Michigan’s occupational code, we find a very broad definition capturing any individual or entity that:…who with intent to collect or receive a fee, compensation, or valuable consideration, sells or offers for sale, buys or offers to buy, provides or offers to provide market analyses, lists or offers or attempts to list, or negotiates the purchase or sale or exchange or mortgage of real estate, or negotiates for the construction of a building on real estate; who leases or offers or rents or offers for rent real estate or the improvements on the real estate for others, as a whole or partial vocation; who engages in property management as a whole or partial vocation; who sells or offers for sale, buys or offers to buy, leases or offers to lease, or negotiates the purchase or sale or exchange of a business, business opportunity, or the goodwill of an existing business for others; or who, as owner or otherwise, engages in the sale of real estate as a principal vocation.Chatting with someone from the Michigan REALTORS would likely be a good place to get confirmation as they would be the ones most interested.It's also important that whoever is doing the leasing is trained in all the laws around leases, RRP, fair housing, landlord-tenant law, tenant relationship act, HUD, lead disclosure law, eviction laws, etc. 

I then engaged an attorney to proceed with foreclosure.

Generally speaking, the Rules state that “licensure as a real estate broker is required of an owner of real estate who engages in the sale of real estate as a principal vocation, unless the owner engages the services of a real estate broker.”Within the Rules there are three (3) “questions” that an investor can ask to test whether or not they are participating in real estate as a “principal vocation.”

You can, however: price your rental competitively, update your booking appeal (look into Instant Book), attract more positive reviews, respond immediately to prospective renters, provide professional photos, limit cancellations, write responses to your reviews to display engagement, property updates/improvements, etc.

Also one problem is that your buyer had already engaged the seller which is an issue because if he seemed eager to them prior to your call, why would they need you.

Real estate agents routinely engage in lease option transactions and generally make the lease option a compensable part of their listing agreements.

.; how to find a good agent, how to analyze properties, how to engage in thorough due diligence, how to manage a property, etc.

Don't tie up any more of your cash than needed.Evidence of financing - You are just starting the process and won't be able to fully engage lenders until you have an accepted offer. 

What I've found to be helpful is to engage with people/groups individually and understand the questions they have, and then answer those questions.

At the least upload a picture and start engaging on the forums will help connect to others.