There is a lot of ways to skin that cat really depending on your goal.On my personal residence I have a 30 year mortgage but I pay on a 15 year schedule. 

I would want to put skin in the game.

I want tenants to have some skin the game with repairs to cut down on petty repair requests.

But if I could have I would have been investing in smaller (also cheaper - in the sense that they cost under 75K, not cheaper as in run down or beat up) property, primarily duplexes or SFH, because it allows you to gain valuable experience and learning lessons while not necessarily having too much on the line, or "skin in the game" if you will - However, when you move across the country to live in Los Angeles, extra money is kind of hard find the first couple of years - but I made it through and here I am!

Family, friends, doctor, CPA, attorney, neighbor, etc.Another option is hard money lenders, they will be more expensive, require skin in the game, and your experience level will dictate what terms you can get.Lastly, you can find a JV partner (joint venture), one with the cash but less time, partner with him or her and split profits.

A home is a HUGE commitment that may need to be sold one day, and for supposedly professional agents with enough power to have a weekly column in the local paper to speak in terms of an extra $10,000 being your coffee at Starbucks for 30 years just irritates me.

Most HML's expect their borrower to have some skin in the game.

It's been irritating nonetheless.

The intent of the "down payment" protects their interest in the property, giving them a buffer with your equity,  and shows them that you have "skin in the game."

I'm still green to this and aside from owning my own home now for 13+ years, I'm ready to put some skin in the game.