You'd be able to secure favorable, owner-occupied financing; force some sweat equity; get your feet wet as a landlord and start to learn the ropes; and down the line, depending on how things go, you could turn it into a full-time rental and either rinse or repeat or move onto a different strategy to obtain future rentals.

First mistake, provided a free incentive to please and secure your tenant, you should always stick to the rules, you must charge accordingly, always enforce pro-rated terms, if/as stated in your contract ease terms.I always like to say that an exception, quickly extends into the rule (As a general rule of thing, we absolutely do not bend on any rule and enforce every element (within reason))Another view is that if you are the individual, the owner, the landlord, the point of communication, it is more difficult to distance yourself from the emotional element, sometimes the emotional attachment to the asset, will shut down your business side of thinking for a brief weak moment, you must restrain from that.

I am only looking to facilitate the transaction, bringing the tenant buyer and landlord seller together.In my state a lessor can only collect at most first, last and a security not to exceed first months rent. 

I've herd you should get the property under contract first but what happens if I get it under contract and can't secure the hard money?

I'm 19 and loved reading rich dad poor dad and yea I agree with you the strategies can be quite overwhelming I'd say best thing is to pick one or two mentors and take some of their techniques and mix and match to formulate something your confident in You can do it keep expanding your knowledge you'll get their in no time It doesn't have to take 30 to 40 years to become a millionaire you can do it with real estate quickly with the right moves .

My concern is with the SEC and securities laws.  

Without going through appraisal techniques, you can expect a fair option price the go between 25-75 % of the expected increases.

You will have to hope the security deposit is sufficient.If the tenant leaves during the lease period, the government will pay only until the end of the month that they left.  

For about $600 a year I secured a surety bond for the deposits.

Did a 1031 exchange on another property to increase cash flow and secured a sizable line of credit on properties with large equity to buy more deals.