Has anyone asked a seller to gift them the funds for a down payment and then repaid the seller by adding that same amount to the purchase price?  

I like the process and plan to ramp this up with 2-3 more before I retire in a 2-3 years.Round 1Retire from my current job.Relocate to be near my son & daughter.Son & wife buy House 1A.I gift them the money for the down payment and renovation.I move into the House 1A and complete a renovation that takes about 8 months.During the renovation they live in an apartment I have rented.At the 8 month mark:I’ve completed the House 1A renovation.Son & wife move into House 1A and live there for the next 16 months.Daughter buys House 1B.I gift her the money for the down payment and renovation.I move into the House 1B and complete a renovation that takes about 8 months.During the renovation she lives in the apartment I have rented.At the 16 month mark:I’ve completed the House 1B renovation.Son & wife are living in House 1A.Daughter moves into House 1B and lives there for next 16 months.I buy House 1C for myself.I move into House 1C and complete a renovation that takes about 8 months.Round 2At the 24 month mark:I’ve completed the House 1C renovation.Son & wife sell House 1A and with the profit buy House 2A.They are able to exclude the gain (profit) from the sale as they have owned the home for the last 24 months.

We usually have sponsors who give away a raffle gift as well.

In your case since your new just have a strong game plan and presentation to prove you know what your doing. 2 - Ensure them the process will be stress free and a smooth transition.3 - Quick and simple closing as opposed to the "nightmare" closings that traditional borrowers sometimes encounter.4 - Savings on Capital Gains5 - (In many cases they are older) I really push that the monthly payments are a nice gift to leave to their estate. 

You might also try working your own network to see if someone will lend/"gift" you the down pmt money with the agreement that you will pay them back with the profit from rent or perhaps offer an ownership stake in the property.

And the very sad thing here -- we are rendering higher education affordable for some of the most gifted, yet least financially fortunate, kids in this nation.

This is consistent, for example, with the intention of the legislation that the supply of a used residential complex, personal use property or qualifying farmland by gift or upon death is exempt under section 2, 9 or 10 of Part I of Schedule V, as the case may be, as an exempt supply of the property by way of sale even though there may be no agreement to transfer ownership of the property.

BTW:  My wife's gift shop is Le Melange Gifts - in Henderson - and she speaks French, if you get lonely for it while you are here.  

Gift funds are allowed and there is paperwork for the gifter and yourself to sign indicating that there is no expectation yo repay those funds, otherwise it's fraud.

FHA loans have only a 3.5% downpayment requirement (no downpayment assistance from FHA but family members can gift you downpayment funds).