Ideally I have skin in all three options for buying and holding as well as BRRRR down the road (diversifying).

Unless you are a veteran or using a DPA program all loan products require some skin in the game (down payment) and that is how most people start their portfolios. 

Placed functional antiques in every room, an antique persian rug, a few animal skins.

- @Max Ferguson Definitely eager to start with something relatively simple to get some skin in the game and learn firsthand.

If you are in a bad neighborhood then you need to grow thicker skin to handle being a landlord in such a neighborhood.If this is loads of different guys/people then that is different than an individual.

Most banks complained about "skin in the game" and required me to have at least 15% down.  

There are more than one way to skin it.  

I am familiar with the "rudeness" but that unfortunately is not so uncommon when dealing with government employees who have to deal with the public on a daily basis and is something you just have to have thick skin for.

Banks want you to have "Skin in the game" in other words they want you to have your own money at risk.That said just because you can do a deal with 100% financing does not mean it is a good deal.

Securing 100% financing for a project is quite rare because lenders typically want you to have some skin in the game.