You could put together an offer on contract where they technically own the house until depreciation ends and then it converts to seller finance and they hold the note.

This means that before a potential buyer is allowed to enter negotiations, and certainly before sensitive financial information is released, the seller and or his agent will want to be convinced that the buyer has the ability and willingness to complete a purchase.  

You will have lots of BP cheerleaders rooting for you no matter the damage done to the sellers, lies, deceit, and dishonesty.

Are there any other demands in the area you think would be beneficial to you and others in the community? 

I would probably use those forms unless I thought the situation was complicated by something.If your lending attorney is familiar with RE lending and works in the space he would have those documents off the shelf to be edited for your situation.On the borrowing end, I've always just pointed the seller to the state website and we used them with the blanks filled in as seemed appropriate.

If they are being less than honest with the seller, the seller might think the home is sold, make plans, even move out.

I had a few seller financed opportunities from the same seller recently.  

If they own several they are obviously investors.Once you get a response from the seller of the vacant house, negotiate a deal to buy it for all cash and get it under contract.

I also will be trying to get sellers financing so any strategies on zero/to low-down options would be greatly appreciated.

We have made an all cash offer at $585k, but the seller has countered at $600k.