If the guests have some skin in the game, they will take better care of the house.

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

No skin in the game yet, so I am seeking some help on this simulation.

The guy that has zero skin in the game or the guy that profits on the sale?

Even if we were to agree to pay her balances on the taxes and HOA fees and take over mortgage payments, without equity there is no room for profit for anyone.

@Tom Mole  , I thrive in a thick skinned community and I appreciate your feedback.  

If you still want to do the fixup kind of work hire yourself out as a handyman for a landlord or another flipper and learn the ropes from the inside with no skin in the game.

Remember, hard money is risky for the lender too and they will always want you to have skin in the game.One way around the down payment is to use another property as collateral if it has great equity.

(all of you full time rehabbers out there can skin me, but I just want to plug in some numbers to illustrate the principle)So let's say you estimate your repairs at 15/square foot.

Run that till you put her in a position that she can sell it to you at her balance or just act as an agent and try to pull a listing from it.