Hi @David Miller, it appears that would be the route to get some "skin in the game".

I would ask the lender, but probably not most lenders want you to have skin in the game, even the seller takes on a lot of risk if you don't pay, because they would not be first loan position. 

They have more skin in the game then you do.Make sure you get clear title.

I always make sure I have some skin in the game.I think this is most definitely the way for you to go.

Has to be the right fit of course and both partners need to have some skin in the game but win-win all the way.  

I was trying to consider some factors that may come into play - from what I understand you can put as little as ~3.5% down under an FHA loan - will it be more beneficial for me to put "more skin in the game" with the largest possible down payment I can make (say, closer to 10-15%)?

You usually have to have some skin in the property in order for them to lend to you.

This structure first compensates either partner for skin in the game (kind of like you would otherwise need to pay for private money), then splits rest.On the legal structure, sounds like you'll want to set up an LLC, along with an operating agreement that specifies the different duties you each have, all the stuff you agreed on deal structure above.

Except for small local banks and credit unions that keep skin in the game (portfolio loans), doesn't the bank want the loan to go through so they can flip it over to Wall Street for securitization?

Depending on how well you know him I would also recommend thinking about having him invest some money in it too so he has "skin in the game."