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. 

This is why you need to do a ton of due diligence on them and make sure they have skin and the game and something to lose.

They have no skin in the game, they'll just move on to the next owner.

- To actually make money investing in S8 rentals, you'll need to develop a thick skin, so you can make business decisions that often conflict with one's humanity tendencies.DM us if you'd like to discuss more.

Forming little groups in the background to down vote certain individuals comments based on skin color, or religion, or perceived political leanings seems like something we could all do without on this forum.

I know the podcasts and books speak about being in a deal with zero skin in the game, but that is an outlier situation not the norm. 

Cash to invest (enough for deposits, skin in the game lenders want you to have, closing costs, carrying costs, and to kick off rehab work).2.) 

But it's in your interests to make sure the property value makes sense and the borrower has skin in the game.