I recommend setting up keyword alerts for each area as they are discussed in the forums daily with advertisements posted in the BiggerPockets marketplace hourly.One thing to note when looking at the individual markets, you can make or lose money in any market.

The lender is a local private individual who has helped finance several deals for me over the years.

Please reach out I would like to connect you with like minded individuals in ChicagoLand  >> https://bit.ly/JimBiggs

I have been planning on 1031ing up both my LLCs at a later point (individually because one is a partnership). 

You are probably going to need to do individual property analysis, I don't think there's a good rule of thumb here.6.

With some of the research I’ve done, it sounds like if we went the LLC route OR buy things jointly then the mortgages would show up on both of our radars - and, my concern with that is that I know getting more than 10 mortgages is challenging per person, so I’d hate to to soak up that potential with 10 shared mortgages, when individually we could have gotten 10 each (20 total)We both have experience with rentals and airbnb as we each of several of our own, but we’re looking to scale/expand and we have complimentary skillsets which would help make that possible, hence the teaming up - but just don’t know how to logistically partner up. 

        - If disputed and applicant sends supporting evidence, perform an "Individualized Assessment" and send a 'final determination letter'

Just know that the mortgage will stay in your individual names and you'll be guarantors.

Thinking I'd sell individual loans with a revenue share so I'm not creating a security. 

Like probably most individuals who start im not a person who has a lot of capital to begin with, hence looking into the sales in arizona.