Requirement to have Un Tomador y Un Coduedor to Rent an Apartment

Hello,

I found a cute apartment that I love by searching Finca Raiz and then connecting with the real estate agency that listed it. I went to view the apartment today with my friend who is a local Colombian citizen and a business owner.  I am being told that in order for me to rent the apartment I need "un tomador y un coduedor" which I understand to mean the requestor (the person whose name will be on the lease, and a co-debtor - someone who would cover the debt if I fail to pay the rent). Okay. So, apparently the tomador needs to already own some property in Colombia and have at least a 3-month history of banking, which seems like an insane requirement to me (how can anyone rent an apartment every if the pre-requisite is to already own a property). I have someone who is a Colombian business owner who is willing to be the co-debtor, but how on Earth am I supposed to find a tomador? I arrived only weeks ago and I'm still waiting on my *physical* cedula card, and the banks have refused to allow me to open an account until I have a physical cedula card.  I have offered to pay in advance - cash - for a full year of renting the property, and the realtor said she would discuss that with the property owner, but I haven't heard any response to that specific offer. I'm a person who wants solutions, but it seems like a mountain of bureaucracy that I have to overcome. How do people deal with this?