My borrower rented for 8 years and she contributed $235 of her $1450 towards the downpayment and closing costs.

I'm just concerned that we are opening up another can of worms as it is more than likely that it will be high in other parts of the house as I suspect the wall-to-wall carpet is contributing to the high counts.  

@Kurt DefenbaughIf you are self-employed with no full-time employees, you can open a solo 401k plan which would allow you to make a $55,000 tax deductible contributions for tax year 2018 as long as you adopt the plan by 12/31/2018.

They are contributing to our housing affordability crisis because they are so high...

And we're wary of those who want to overbuild and overpopulate; particularly when those coming in do little to contribute to our tight knit communities. 

I also think that those "outside factors you have no control over" that contribute to a neighborhood improving have been a guessing game, but are actually able to be tracked because of advances in technology over the past couple of years. 

What Rod said is correct, come and meet some investors/landlords and see what their needs are and what you can contribute.

I'm dubious that the contribution is as large as they say it is.  

Looking to learn more about investing more, and contribute what I can.

Most partners aren't contributing a large percentage of the investment in sweat equity, so if your partner walks out (or has to be "fired"), typically it's time and headaches that are the result, not large amounts of money.