This makes it more favorable for the Seller to say they'll take yours knowing in 3 days you'll have 10% deposit locked in...versus the retail buyer with only 1% skin in the game, that could take two weeks for inspections, only to back out and force them to put back on market weeks later...and oh by the way, the retail buyer probably has financing with an even longer contingency to back out when they "can't get funding".

New metal roof, new exterior skin (sheathing, siding, windows, etc).

My role is finding investors, and maybe investing a bit of my dough for good faith (skin in game).

You could buy a couple small multi-family or a single large multi-family.There are a lot of ways to skin a cat but we don't know your goals, your skill set, the market, how involved you want to be, etc.

If your buyer is a seasoned investor and your feel there is a enough skin in the deal, go ahead and close escrow with the seller in possession.

So I require skin in the game (average is 5% to 15%) to offset this.

I provide 10% of the capital so that I have some skin-in-the-game.Ownership:  The above investment, however, equates to their owning 80% of the property and me owning 20%.

I have signed up with them - it seems like a great option for those with little or no credit and need a fairly decent place to live - my problem would be in protecting my own skin - I mean, I would want a buyer to sign something that says they will hold me harmless when they sign up with this company.  

The $500 is enough that they have "skin in the game" but not so much to make it feel onerous. 

Materials $2500, sweat & knuckle skin priceless!!!