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.

The next one is in April and I would recommend going, it was amazing bc people were getting properties for 5K, Am very much stressing you def do your due diligence bc alot of them are in areas some investors might not have the thick skin for.  

Even as a veteran, we always learn new ways to skin a cat.Big Henry

I would as much as possible put yourself in a situation where the tenants have skin in the game so they will take better care of the place.