@Joseph GarnerThe more skin in the game you have, the less likely you are to walk away from the loan if it goes south. 

I don't know any HML that doesn't want the borrower to have skin in the game.What is your contingency fund?

It has been my experience that students will flake out on signed leases but not signed leases AND skin in the game (i.e. money).

I generally don't like to go less than $10K-$20K on a downpayment to be sure the buyer has skin in the game.I ABSOLUTELY recommend you work with a Real Estate Lawyer and/or Title company on deeds, promissory notes, deed of trust etc... to make sure everything is drawn up correctly and filed correctly.

Wish I had a cleaner answer, but everyone is going to want you to have skin in the game. 

They don’t have skin in the game.

We don’t require any down payment (unless it’s your first deal and you have a deal where the rehab + purchase price + closing costs are under 70%, we may lower how much we loan you so that you have skin in the game).

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

It was recommended to me that I collect a refundable performance guarantee fee from co-signer so she has some skin in the game.

Many wholesalers have no skin in the game and if they can't find a Buyer--tough for Seller.