Submit inquiries to hosts in the areas you are looking at and ask if they'd be willing to share occupancy and financials.

There are lots of YouTube videos on how to get the criteria that you want.

Next time, you might like to take borrowing costs into account BEFORE submitting your Offer/s?

I saw a video on YouTube and did some other reading and ended up creating a spreadsheet to track properties visited.

You need to know how to use it because you can make a hole in the floor really easy (videos look easier than reality).

Nothing needs to be recorded or submitted to escrow.You certainly can by all means, but that may bring about additional servicing fee costs and give the impression of a "down payment" or "installment" which you want to avoid in lease options as to avoid any equitable interests of the tenant buyer. 

Is there a way to have prospective tenants submit an application and background check through something like SmartMove or similar software right from my business' website?

So let's say your realtor  makes a 90k cash only offer for you on a foreclosed townhouse , submits it to the listing agent and three days later has to call listing agent to ask outcome.

Just beware as you search for said mentor that you don't get sucked in my any get rich quick gurus flashing their Lamborghini to seduce you in some video.

I was thinking generally for any real estate business but i will definitely check out Mark Kohlers video.