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Glad to see that you're getting an organization going with good numbers, plenty of initiative, and national backing. I also co-founded a nationally-backed chapter (a few years go) and have gained so much from the experience.
1.) Work with them to get a schedule with hard deadlines. Ask them about the process, who/what it'll involve, and devise a timely action plan. Figure out what your roadblocks are and actively work to overcome them. Thankfully, it's usually magnitudes easier to start an IFC chapter than to colonize a NPC sorority.
2.) Not recommended. The liability involved can get you shut down and looked upon unfavorably. It's not worth the risk unless national HQ is backing you 100% (which is unlikely). Even then, you'll have trouble recruiting people / gaining opportunities if you don't have the university's backing.
3.) A fraternity is not about a house. Focus on the brotherhood/operations/values first. After all, that's why all of you didn't join one of the existing fraternities in the first place, right? If a few of you want to get together and unofficially live in the same place, that may be a good idea, but having a house introduces a lot of financial/logistical challenges that may be detrimental to a brand new organization. Also, remember that any place you get isn't necessarily permanent; you can always upgrade if you have the means to do so.
Good luck, and I hope you're involving the national organization along the entire process.
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