I would try to arrange for a home inspector to go check out the property for you and make sure there are no major issues that you need to be aware of.

Arrange chronologically and set dates.  

Your slam dunk was an arrangement with the agency that helped place tenants.

She ignored any of our texts after the case to arrange key drop so we figured she would not be out.

One of the most important items when house hacking (in my opinion) is to set very clear expectation with your roommates as to how the arrangement will need to work.

I'm not sure if you're open to that type of arrangement but it's worked very well for me. 

You compensation for this kind of arrangement should include compensation (for brining the land and your work effort) AND just as importantly, the boost you will acquire to your learning curve.That said, I took the liberty of using the factors you shared with Greg Dickerson and found that, as you correctly suspected the deal doesn't work based on them.

Basically any arrangement could be regarded as a security if it falls within the definition of a security. 

I’m in Europe until late October myself so perhaps we can arrange something when we are both back in Dubai.

However, probably is a long shot that the people would have 80k to spend and be interested in this sort of arrangement?