You are right, I guess I am should have included the 2 years it took to work up the nerve.

I guess I'll need to buy more properties using cash, in order to build up my experience.  

I guess I am missing your end goal here.You could provide take offs if you wanted.

For Medicaid there is a 5 yr lookback on assets/funds - Medicaid can pay for assisted living - however few facilities work with medicaid (or whatever the program is called in your state - in KS it's called HCBS - Home & Community Based Services)  - I'm not fully educated on medicare which kicks in for SNF - skilled nursing facility -- so I do not know the nuances of that -- if there's proof of elder abuse regarding funds I'd guess the local authorities and possibly Medicare/Medicaid could come after the guilty parties.

I guess this would be a "residential partnership"I'm talking about consumer end-users, not investors.Overtly high-priced RE isn't a problem where I am, but I thought this might be a good way to share in the appreciation of the house while still selling (vs. renting) as a business model.

I guess the only way then that they might consider it is if you kept a significant amount of funds with the bank?

Maybe there is a business opportunity to make a "positive pitch" by advertising some of the enjoyable experiences the landlord could have if the landlord sold to you and had your cash to spend.I guess that doesn't really answer your question though. 

They were surprised at how I found the deal.I guess my question is, what should I expect them to to for me?

I'm guessing you feel pretty dumb right about now.

I guess my question is: How do I go about finding this property?