Comparing the NY & FL markets you also have other elements like heating and snow removal which usually fall on the landlord. 

Then I usually tell them I will be in contact even if I know I'm going to offer on it.

Not an ongoing thing like a 30 year mortgage.HMLs also do lend long-term, usually 5-yr or 30-yr. 

I bet @Jon Holdman has a good answer to this - per usual.

LLCs are usually not free.

What does a partner usually ask in return when they put up the DP?

Usually they have pretty strict requirements for housing type and aethetics.

You can usually go higher on a higher priced property.

also important to clarify that it’s verifiable income, usually meaning some sort of salary.If someone shows you a bank statement with a bunch of cash or claims to be self employed making 500k a year but wants to live in your 750 a month rental obviously you should be skeptical.  

They (the judge) usually assigns a trial attorney to the property, and since they are always doing trial stuff and in court the real estate stuff is way down on their list of to do's.