Dealing with those that received lump sums from any source is an indication they lack the ability to save, the skin in the game carries less weight than if it had been saved over time, with the blood, sweat and tears.

It takes organization, tough skin consistency, willingness to sacrifice, and alot of other characteristics most people don't have.

you typically need 25-25% down when buying investment property. they want some skin in the game.now you can go 6 months later & try & do a cash out refi - some lenders do that - if it appraises.

Your going to need to learn how to get a thick skin and let stuff roll off you like water on a ducks back and look forward to listening talking to folks and seeing how you can help them while seeing how you can help yourself as well.

My lenders still require me to have skin in the game so I do have my own money in the deal I do.

Don't think seniors or the elderly have thin skin, certainly be nice and polite, but you can still be stern if need be.Seniors (55+), (okay, I'll admit hitting this stage) are not elderly, when they hit elderly, 75+ you get into another crowd.  

Mike I have never done business with them.. but I had the opportunity to have breakfast one morning with the owners of the company... when I was in Cleveland looking at some of my stuff.There is no doubt they are pro's and well capitalized and know what they are doing.referrals from past clients are really tough frankly... for two reasons one you don't want to bother people and two with some companies ( not Smartland) this is the easiest thing in the world to find folks that may or may not be real and say glowing things.. your best bet in my mind is to go out and eye ball them and the property you want to buy.. then make a decisiondon't do a Morris thing.. were he had all these glowing testimonials on his U tube then promptly sold 500 or junkers to those we are now in a tight spot.. 

Their skin in the game tells me how bad they really want it done.

With literally almost 0% skin in the game, and a border to cross legally to pursue recourse (if it were needed), it just isn't feasible.

And only last week, this principle saved my skin on a property I made a huge mistake on early in my career.