However, I am highly interested in the US real estate market, and I do prefer to go for leverage rather than a huge down payment.What would you recommend please?

@Ed Gonzalez it’s best to put the least amount down provided the investment cash-flows with all expenses accounted for including Capex AND provided you have a healthy reserve account of at least 6 months worth of PITI payments but preferably a reserve account of $10k to ensure you can keep your property.

If you are very active, you probably prefer to stay more liquid.You also have to understand... the more you finance... the lower your cash flow.

Their lease doesn't expire until Aug 31st but their preference is to get her name off the lease now and to start a new lease in only his name starting May 1st.

I prefer real estate and having control. 

Alternatively, you could continue to hold and rent them out assuming that they are cash flowing well and either do a cash-out refi (preferable for your next buy/hold) or a Heloc (preferable for fix/flip or value add purchase) and utilize some of the equity to increase your holdings.

The structure look a lot like partnership deal where you get preferred interest plus profits.

It may sound a little like overkill, but for me overkill probably isn't possible given where I want my level of involvement to be in performing active field duties and tenant interfacing, which is ZERO.That is all very valuable to me as it allows me to focus on my professional work and securities investment which is what I prefer to do.

Seeking to build an honest, reliable, and legitimate team to invest in my first house hacking multifamily property (preferably duplex, but open to triplexes, or 4plexes if the numbers make sense).

On the other end of the spectrum, if you prefer long term, lower risk, with cash flow that will weather a recession, you may want to invest in NNN or consider mobile home parks.