AND there is always more than one way to "skin the cat";.

The minimum credit scores required for borrowers may also be raised, and the guarantee fees charged to lenders may increase, Donovan said. “We have made the decision to exercise our authority to increase the up-front cash that a borrower has to bring to the table in an FHA-backed loan, to make sure that FHA borrowers have more ‘skin in the game,’†Donovan told the committee.

It has truly been very helpful to create skin in the game so people on call on "true" issues.

Can you afford any of that without additional assets, how much (skin in the game), how much short? 

Derek it's simply not going to happen with hard money lenders.They want skin in the game and you have zero experience unless you do and you just forgot to mention that part.

You can find out what limits they have, what LTV they normally aim for, how much "skin in the game" they expect from you, what points and interest rates they typically charge. 

Is that normal to put in an offer to tie up a property like that for 2 months, with no real skin in the game, assuming he can just get his earnest money back and back out a week before closing if his financing falls through?  

I've been assuming that conventional lenders want the buyers to have skin in the game.

Over exposure may lead to respiratory irritation and coughing.

You should speak to a competent lender that can either do delayed financing, which would be backing you 80% LTV out of the deal keeping some skin in the property.