Private and hard money lenders also want to see that you have "skin in the game."

I have been on the sidelines and need to get some skin in the game.

How much skin in the game will we need for being first timers.

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

@Patrick Frairei feel like i suggest this in every rentback situation, however, it may not work as well in this situation, but have you considered twlling them to leave $5-$10k in escrow with the stipulation that it be used to evict the tenant if you arw forced to evict. if you give them some extra skin in the game, they will come back and help get her out in a year

@Lee Ripma I've thought about being the bank, When you're funding deals are you funding the entire deal (to include all rehab) and being the First position, or are you funding Acquisition/Down payment only requiring your borrower to have "Skin in the game" and leaving you in 2nd position?

It's their fault, and the power lies with them to reverse their poor past choices and pick themselves up a bit by their own bootstraps.You're going to tell these new tenants that what's primarily wrong with them is not a legacy of a crime against humanity in the form of three hundred years of black slavery, followed by an unfunded emancipation that turned a huge number of Americans into desperate economic refugees based on the color of their skin, followed by a legacy of organized race hatred, bigotry, pseudoscientific and religious condemnation, and of course overwhelming and widespread intimidation and coercion, followed by a series of failed half-hearted half-measures coupled with an absolute refusal to consider slave reparations and the most lopsided minority levels of poverty and incarceration in the developed world.You're going to explain to these black folks that all that is of secondary importance, and what's REALLY important now is that they get better managing their money so they can hand it over to you more efficiently and you won't have to work so hard to get it.

Many of the above over pay and have a long time-frame... to "mitigate the risk" I guess there are many ways to skin the cast....Im using leverage and in it for the cash-flow and forced appreciation, not land banking and hoping. 

Typically, they want more skin in the game 50%-65% LTV is common.  

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