You have to have thick skin.

With that said it does take a special kind of person to cope with the demands of these markets, it takes a very tough skin.

I can read music, play all brass, can pick out a tune on most anything with strings, woody's too but oboe is hard and can beat the skins as well, and sing bass, can't hit the high ones anymore, LOL, it was just an example. ;)

It also gives them a little skin in the game.

I think what your friends might be getting at is feeling there is a lot to lose for all parties if something goes bad (skin in the game).If you are not putting much money in and just making the commission upfront they might feel you have nothing monetary to lose like they do.You just have to talk through these issues until everyone is comfortable or not proceed in the future on other properties.

The musky smell is from the oils used to protect their skin and fur.

Having reviewed her credit report with her, she, in 26 years of credit history, had NEVER missed a payment and had ALWAYS paid more than the minimum on her balances.

Maybe the guy wanting the loan with no skin in the game paid some "guru" $20,000 to learn to try such stuff?

Skin in the game will separate the lookers from the buyers.

If you don't have a track record, then I'd want to see that you had some skin in the game (i.e., your own money invested).