As far as goals, I would like to buy 5 + houses a year for the next 10 years.I am a professional salesman with 20 yr experience that has thick skin and is not afraid to ask.

Though I have substantial skin in the game I even chose not to take any preferred return.

The chances are very good if you have skin in the deal.Joe Gore

Your skin is sticky all day long and when I get that kind of heat, I feel like strangling everyone around me :)

I was kind of thinking mixing the cash out refis and private money covering my "skin in the game" with the funds from the cash out refi. 

It was no skin off my nose to have him around and he gave me a great deal.  

Most will want more skin in the game but that's typically how it works.  

If not you may have a hard time finding money without a bit of a track record or quite a bit of skin in the game.

And if they don't want to buy then get the worst, thickest skinned tenants you can find in there and let them loose...

I don't believe your credit score or cash on hand is critical - although HML will want to see that you have some skin in the game - if you had a high credit score and a bank roll, you wouldn't need the services of a HML.