The way I see it your partner scenario could have an advantage over a property manager because they have more skin in the game. 

JV with them.All HML want some type of skin in the game.

Hello @Kevin Zhang, there are many ways to skin a cat.

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

I had to build some credibility and have some skin in the game, though.If I were in your shoes I'd try to find an investor to partner with who can carry the loan, and you can bring some or all of the down payment.

Neither my clients nor the other agents know about this at that point, my guys are already stressing out with the deal, are in the middle of packing and have been hanging on by the skin of their teeth (home sale contingency...) during a nerve wrecking six weeks.

@James Murphey thanks for the advice@Chris Martin I agree with your view of multiple streams of income but I feel like having the roths maxed out is suitable to have enough skin in the stock market to generate wealth in the long run.

@Karan Malhotra I think @Jay Hinrichs and I are on different pages of the same book.I was probably getting too far in to the weeds to stick with the "general requirements" theme @Timothy Albright set up.I was simply putting the info out there that a hard money lender is going to require some "skin in the game".

seems like that is a bank refi situation not a raise private money so the owners have little to no skin in the game

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