But as I thought about it, your partner had/has at least some skin in the game w/ respect to that downpayment.

Paul, I think a lot of lenders are more comfortable when the know they borrower has some decent skin in the game.

There is a big buzz lately about the benefits and merits of "Co Wholesaling these days.Honestly,,,it sounds great and as a practical matter it seems like a great way for a Newbie or novice investor to get started.For that matter ,,Im sure even an experienced investor would love to split a wholesale fee with a wholesaler if they were in agreement and the partner brought in the exact buyer the wholesaler wanted in the first place.But I have some healthy skepticism about the whole concept01 Wouldnt you think a killer wholesaler even with only 1 or 2 years in the biz would have a healthy bonafide buyers list already,,those 4 0r 5 people that have already bought from him and tell him "bring me the next deal you get across your desk,,it doesnt even need to be a great deal"02 We are all busy,,,lets be honest and all the succesful wholesalers I know,,,as nice as they are as people,they really dont have time to mess around and train or hold hands with a well intended "buyer finder" there is still a learning curve03 From what I see it takes a lot of time and MONEY spent on marketing to shake out a deal from the trees these days.Ive heard stories of some individuals spending 5 to10K on marketing a month.

I have enough saved for a healthy down payment. 

That is something you have a choice over in your life.A positive way is exercising, having healthy hobbies etc.Destructive is addictive type problems like over eating, drinking, smoking, social disorders, doing drugs, compulsive gambling, infidelity etc.

Great tip JJ Pawlowski ... as long as you are clear with your HML and they are clear with you, budget in all the fees and closing costs, make sure to be ready to come to the table with some skin in the game, and it will be a smooth transaction! 

Dion, my mentor has significant skin in this purchase. 

I feel safer and therefore don't have a problem "actively" managing my house*Buy Out Lease- It prevents the tenant from just "breaking" the lease as they have skin in the game.

Sure you will be giving up some of the deal and its proceeds - perhaps half - but you will have local expertise who have skin in the deal and are motivated for its success.  

You can make a very healthy living specializing on one segment of foreign buyers.