Our setup has us splitting losses 50-50 as added insurance to the investor and as a way to show i have skin in the game. 

. #1, it requires them to put some of their own skin in the game and if they back out of the contract you've got 5k to pay off your $100-$1000 EMD to the seller, or work with them to extend the contract so you can find another buyer.

Perhaps when doing your refis, leave some skin in the game, e.g. $10K, if it would yield you $200/month NET for example.

Having skin in the game focuses one's attention on the game.

This would give a definite buyer in the contractor who would now have "skin" in the game for refinancing from a bank.

This would give a definite buyer in the contractor who would now have "skin" in the game for refinancing from a bank.

There's a reason credit cards can't be used as down payments and the reason is that lenders want you to have skin in the game.

However, more savvy real estate investors will want you to have skin in the game and the ability to pay the loan back.

are there better ways to show skin in the game for hard money investors?

Is it standard for HMLs to ask for a one-time deposit of $3500 that includes: 1) evaluators going out to property to determine whether it's a good deal, 2) enrollment fee and 3) "skin in the game"?