Most lenders like to see you have some "skin in the game" , so may need a down payment and some closing costs at the very least - however , there are still opportunities to wholesale or bird dog which does not require down payment money but may be a lot more difficult without a marketing budget.

Experienced wholesalers are a great asset, but watch out for purported wholesalers who just paid for a course, have no skin in the game and have no real knowledge of the industry.

I am intrigued by the idea of $0 out of pocket purchases as this would get me some skin in the game quicker than paying off my debt and rebuilding my savings, all while adding the expense of a new baby!

I know there are a million ways to skin a cat (sorry if you're a cat lover) but I am new to real estate and would love experienced advice.Thank you for your time and sorry for the lengthy post.Faithfully,Scott

Sometimes dealing with tenants that have little/no "skin in the game". 

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.