Even if buying under FMV with instant equity, a conventional lender wants to see skin in the game - a down payment.If the seller could loan you money collateralized by a different property and you owner-occ/house hack it, it would be possible.  

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

Noone is going to want to work with you unless you have skin in the game.

Jim-The only advice I'd give on using someone else, is make sure they have skin the game.

So those may be first to (again) walk away and default due to little to no skin in the game.

TK provider has skin in the game and Realtor does not whose motives may be to be the "you are paying to much, come with me and I will connect you with a better deal."

I have some private money that has been pledged my way to invest with and i'd like to show some of my own skin in the game with it. 2.

The more skin in the game from you, the better the terms and the lower the risk for the private money lender.  

Landlord - lots of ways to skin this cat but finding, buying, leasing, managing will be nearly impossible for you overseas unless you have someone take all of this on for you.  

We agreed upon a 2-4 unit property since I have learned they are typically easier to finance, since they aren't considered commercial.We both agree that we would like to split the liability equally so that we both have the same amount of skin in the game.