If you are considering it more for regular life benefit then I say go for it, knowing that it is the primary reason and anything you get from the investment part is just a bonus. 

My thoughts were as follows:I get a third party lender/investor to come in with the down payment of 10-25%.

At any rate, we are in the first stage of the process and don't need to do anything until one of the parties escalates the situation.Adam: thanks for your reply.

I am a little late to the party but...

Do some detective work try to find the correct party and their location hunt em down reach out to them.

With a real estate asset, the owner has the power to decide based on its performance, not an international cobweb of third party facilitators. 

I have learned how to invest my retirement funds - through a 3rd party custodian - into real estate deals, the proceeds of which are going directly into my retirement account.

Welcome to BP Donnie, and given the party never ends, it's not such a big deal to be late.

If you can find a motivated seller for whatever reason you can throw some other strategies related to seller financing or even lease option (or sandwich lease option) which I think is a really cool way to get a property without much money but can be a win for all parties involved.

Obviously it is apparent The messaging cannot be generic in substance and I will tailor every message to that party.