It's also upsetting her kids' skin because it is so harsh, so a simple drinking water filter isn't a favored solution. 

The Skins actually won yesterday! 

If there was any, you did not have many properties to work with.At the end of the 3 day workshop when they pitched the different tiers of mentorship programs, I remember an older gentleman who could be my grand pa decide not to purchase any program because after hearing all their spill he could not see or observe, I quote "Phill Grove have skin in the game" for the mentorship program.

Find a way to put skin in the game without having the money. 

This knowledge is essential Assuming you source a good deal (with multiple potential exit strategies), I would then bring in a capital partner to fund the down payment or Property acquisition…and get some sort of sweat equity (depending on your experience and value brought to table) and then invest the $10,000 you do have into the deal itself to add your stake, add some skin to the game and align your interest with your capital partner.

I have all my systems and processes down to fix and flip a house tomorrow with the team I’ve built, i have private money lenders that want to invest but wanna see some skin in the game first.

Bottom line is I'm a bit wary of getting into this again and would really need to be sure that the first lien positions were solid, the borrower had enough skin in the game and the property was in an area where resale or rental would not be problematic in the event I had to foreclose. 

Their expertise has value, they now have good skin in the game, and they will/should agree to share their thought process when they say "that's a good idea" or "that's a stupid idea." 

Depending on the size of the opportunity if someone local has skin in the game with you then you are actually operating as a local.

They have more skin in the game then you do.Make sure you get clear title.