New Orleans Project Home Again (Louisiana): Implemented after Hurricane Katrina, this program involved a land swap and redevelopment initiative.

And don’t sleep on local banks or credit unions—they sometimes offer flexible portfolio loans that could work for a deal like this.Since your wife qualifies as a first-time homebuyer, check out any state-specific programs or HUD options for down payment assistance.

The 25% has to be your funds.Now, there are non conventional options that would be a bit more flexible but even most of those programs will require at least 20% down with no second mortgages filed on the property. 

Some programs will do the full LTV that a long term rental would have and some lenders will reduce the LTV by 5%.

The LP got it from a friend who is in some kind of real estate mentoring program.

And if someone tries it, without paying for classes or programs, they can either net a deal or loose X number of hours of their time trying it.

Some rehab lenders have favorable refinancing programs to convert the rehab loan to permanent 30 year financing.

Looks like there is one program that has not closed yet in Ohio, maybe not the right county, but I would call anyway, they typically know who else could help.https://nlihc.org/rental-assistance?

The best way to find your boots on the ground is to use vetted Agents from BiggerPockets with our Featured Agent Program, or Lenders with our Featured Lender Program, or Property Managers with our Featured PM Program, or a Tax Pro with the Featured Tax Professional Program - all from BiggerPockets to help everyone find trusted investor friendly professionals.  

By doing this we qualified for a larger mortgage because we could use the rent from the other tenant to qualify and there are better lending programs when it’s “owner occupied”.