$5,000 is an amount that should show the seller and their agent you are serious about putting some 'skin in the game'.  

Unless you have a PML that youve done a ton of business with, who knows and trusts you, any other lender is always going to need you to have some skin in the game, which is no bad thing for everyone involved in my experience.

I have solid screening processes, policies that nip problems in the bud, a tough skin, tenants that are trained to use my emergency line and not contact me on my cell, etc.

I know Hard money Lenders want you to have skin in the game as well n usually only fund up to 80%.

Keep in mind that most of them will require you to have some "skin in the game" and roughly require 20-30% down.conventus llclima one capitalcorevestcosmic funding by onyx capital partners llc

., no "skin in the game"), I'd think twice about investing.

The "bad loans" don't scare me much those as most loans have buyers with skin in the game in regard to down payments, proving they can repay, etc.There is some talk going around about helocs adjusting, and loan modifications adjusting, that may add some desperate sellers to the market but we will see.

Yes, which is not a problem to show them the skin in the game.

  - Yes, be careful of any agent, because they have no skin in the game if you can't make it work.

If you have ZERO skin in the game and he is going to split the cashflow with you 50/50 for 5 years, then he is an idiot (or perhaps it is a family member willing to help you out?)