A smart seller/listing agent will likely require a large EMD to tie you to performing on your offer, so be prepared for that. 

Perhaps we "buy" the house from them for the $328K balance to satisfy the lender and don't need a large down payment and then have a separate contract with them to pay $x per month until we've paid the full $172K amount.

My first questions are what price range are you trying to buy a property in and do you have a home already in the United States?

It doesn’t cost any different than being under your own personal name.  

The group is full of those that do that and the people range in size.

If you don’t have a large down payment saved up, don’t worry—there are plenty of options available . . .”A trusted lender will go over the various loan types with you, any down payment requirements on those, and down payment assistance programs you may qualify for.

@Jaren Taylor, not sure if this is why you talk about raising all cash, but given most deals are trading in the 5% cap rate range, and agency debt is 6.5% while balance sheet debt is closer to 7%, I whole heartedly agree that all cash is the ideal capital structure for many properties today, if your goal is to maximize overall returns for your investors.  

Hey Makani, you should check out DSCR loans, which are primarily for investment properties and focus on the property’s income potential rather than your personal income.

It will also allow you to pull out a HELOC in the 90% LTV range since it will be your primary residence.

I personally leverage, but have a large rainy day fund.