I just recently started engaging with this forum myself.

I'm slightly confused thou because highest and best is usual meaning there are multiple offers but you are also saying you got a counter?

Also larger brokerages with multiple offices will likely have many seasoned Brokers willing to have you help out.

(Some of the books that helped me the most I have read multiple times) Financing your deals is not impossible if you have downpayment money, but if you have a BK and no cash, you're right, it's very challenging. 

If you have budget for multiple properties, and bandwidth for multiple markets, consider evaluating "deals" from both markets.    

If I engage an attorney, I would try to build his fees into the cost of the loan, probably as points on the backend (after flip).One of my worries is that with the added cost of the attorney and with the return I require to satisfy my risk appetite, the rate I can offer them would be uncompetitive (one of them who has a steady income, good DTI  and prime credit score can get fairly competitive (6-8%) rates on an personal unsecured loan).

Due your due diligence and be sure to understand all of the rules before engaging this structure. 

This is considered a hard inquiry because the renter had no direct involvement in the request.Many renters apply to multiple rental listings with different landlords.

There will be multiple ways they cross check.  

I engages in hundreds of discussions here on the BP forum on the subject of self-directed investing (which is area of my expertise) and almost all of them people are asking questions, want to learn more, etc.