It has been my experience that if someone is up to something they will try and do it with no skin in the game.  

"skin in the game").$19k isn't a TON of money.

I had been working in the Music Industry for the past five years, but after getting married in October 2015 I realized that the Music Industry is a single man's game and I decided I wanted to transition into a different career. 

As I said, I'm new to the game as well, but these are my observations on the louisville market.

If the Sherrif sale is at 10:00 am today, the game is over. 

I am as fresh as they come to the real estate investing game.

good luck welcome to the industry its treated me well all these years and I owe 100% of what ever I have done to being in the game.

These are the hard money lenders, the title companies and real estate agents.You can still be I the game, but not I the field.

If your expertise is in sales you will be way ahead of the game.

The small amount of "skin in the game" required by the borrower can usually be made from multiple sources (2nd position gap lenders/private lenders, seller carry back, cross collateral, personal capital, etc).