A borrower really needs to have at least some "skin in the game" to make lenders feel comfortable.

Most seller finance notes have interest rates in the 9-10%+ range.Also, 5% down is very little skin in the game for the borrower.

This saved my skin on the exit!

The lenders simply are not interested in financing a deal where the buyer has such a small amount of skin in the game.If you don't mind, can you touch on how you were able to obtain the type of financing structure that allowed for a seller-held 2nd mortgage? 

We don't know you, we have no idea how you act under pressure, how much hair a sec8 tenant will have you pulling out or how thick you skin is.

I also want high skin in the game, conservative leverage and reasonable fees.Open-door isn't a match for me (and an easy "no") because they don't have that type of experience.

People with no skin in the game are telling you it is not hte blue mans fault even based on what you told them. 

Alternatively i could go for being a real estate broker and try to get experience in actual real estate without putting too much of my own skin in the game.

How come you don't see the excitement you could have, of asking yourself all those questions at your desktop, if only you had some skin in the game?

The deposit amount when working with a lender comes from the lender - it is basically the amount of skin the lender wants you to have in the game.