Most hard money lenders require some skin in the the game.

When they have skin in the game, they are more likely to be responsive after the fact.

The one rule I have always stuck to is: you must get at least one month's rent for the deposit, any less and the tenant doesn't have enough skin in the game to prevent them from packing up and leaving in the middle of the night.

If you chose to buy cheap properties in mainly in Sec8 rental areas for high cashflow, better have thick skin and a desire for a more active role in managing your portfolio. 

The lenders like to see you have reserves and some skin in the game to feel good about the turn around project. 

I considered knocking on their door, but my skin isn't that thick. 

I'm a beginning real estate investor looking to do my first deal, but the hardest thing so far is funding with not much skin in the game

Everyone has skin in the game.  

If I've got to take the risk of getting planning approval for what is probably a change of zoning (as a guess), then I'm reaping the rewards, not the seller, who has zero skin in the game.

Do they have equity or skin in the game or are they skimming off other people's money?