You have to bring something to the table, in this case the property is your contribution.

I go to craigslist if I want to buy an expensive bicycle, maybe a coffee table or a book shelf, NOT A LENDER.Go to your local REIA and there should be plenty of hard money lenders.

@Jason Scott - Hope this doesn't sound gimmicky when I say this but there has never been a better time to take money off the table in the equities market and shelter it in a solid RE deal.

I did it for the past 7 years and definitely left a lot on the table.

Looked like a mountain so I paid them off. 

I want to do this right and protect myself and my partner, but on the other hand, I start to think am I making a mountain out of a mole hill with this? 

My wife and I are closing on a 4 bedroom cabin in the Smoky Mountains later this week (thanks to @Avery Carl). 

Every state and jurisdiction has their own time table for how often properties are reassessed.

Nothing happens in a deal until the money is brought to the table.

Lastly, if you have a scholarship on the table that covers the cost of school, then your thought process might be different as well.