The typical method of going through a real estate agent and using MLS doesn't seem like the ideal path (if only the easiest and most typical).  

Get a private money loan and secure it with a deed of trust on the property.

When they sign the lease, the deposit transfers and becomes the security deposit.

Her first month's rent/security deposit check bounced.

@Lee Ribeiro lots to go over here so I'll try my best to address these one at a time:"Getting mortgage under my name to get around me being on title less than 6 months" - this method will NOT get around this Fannie/Freddie requirement. 

However months later when the lease was up and there were other items I deducted from his security deposit, he protested. 

...i reached out to an investor asking that i be added to their vip cash buyers list, as i have been given the green light by several buyers to bring sellers to table. she sent me a deal - its great, off-market in north cali with around 40 units, fully entitled. so i sent the deal to my cash buyers list and immediately got a buyer who wants it. i asked my investor friend if she pays a finders fee and she said yes...but since i know that my cash buyer is more than happy to pay above to asking price for the deal, id rather secure the contract myself and then assign it to my buyer but one obstacle i might face is that my pof isnt for 10 million its about half of that....with getting this contract myself also i dont have to worry about next time my buyer going directly to my investor and getting future deals that would leave me cut out of the deal.

- 4 units or less can secure conventional residential financing (if you want to live in one unit you can even get an FHA loan). (3).

Any other assets that can be secured to a loan?

Hey BP, is it too much to request first and last month with a security deposit?