Are they private or federal student loans, or both?

If you are the only owner then I would save the money and just follow the steps to register with the SCC and get you federal tax ID number.

Try DFCU - Dearborn Federal Credit Union They also give 1% cash back on your total mortgage amount and have very competitive rates

The cities you mentioned seem to be fairly popular among out of state and foreign investors.

Where we do survey always is when I was in the Timber business.. we always ran cut lines.. the old method was to use BLAZE's .. but you cut a tree that's not yours and its triple stumpage and if its federal timber its a federal bust... many a logger have seen jail time for stealing FED timber.

Apparently Wells Fargo is the most popular bank to use for this.  

However, my concern is this is a very "trendy" concept and will likely fall out of popularity.

I want to buy a small multifamily in a popular neighborhood in my city (the highlands) to become an owner occupier.

And its financial fraud, which is a federal offence. 

I ripped out the 2 inch thick, metal lath/concrete/pink tile walls (that apparently were really popular in this area) so I am going to have to retile the entire shower already anyway.