So it may be costing you more than just putting some skin in the game and recouping it back on the refinance or sale. 

Where each party has some skin in the game holds everyone accountable.

That being said, there are a lot of ways to skin a cat.  

.- Have some skin in the game.

I stick to sponsors who have at least one full real estate cycle of experience with little to no money loss...ever, conservative leverage, high skin in the game, reasonable compensation ( so they aren't incentivized to push the risk envelope) etc. 

Inventory is low and activity is high, so 3.5 percent down isn't going to entice a lot of people to jump (low skin in the game) unless you are paying substantially more than someone with 20 percent down.Also, FHA and off-market almost never go together.

No one has more "skin in the game" than a PMC as they have to deal with the property every day until an owner sells or fires them.Also recommend finding your own Inspector and not one referred by an agent.

It's great to get someone's perspective, but what I've learned, even after someone gets free advice, they don't take it because they have no skin in the game.They haven't either worked or paid for that advice, and they don't value it.

In my experience success in real estate, whether as an investor or provider, requires a “thick skin”.  

I'm working on a 53 unit deal now without banks.There are so many different ways to skin a cat in this game.