You may have to see and analyze dozens of properties before a suitable one surfaces, waiting to be hooked! 

No amount of experience will prevent that.If you're not prepared for a $30,000 rehab over budget, either don't do the deal or do the deal with someone who can manage the rehab, bring in some skin in the game and will get a portion of the cashflow and the profit when you exit/sell the property.

For someone living in NJ with little to no money to invest- what would you do to get some “skin in the game”?

I’m a novice and just started to scratch the surface on real estate investing.

This goes on the exterior side and will last around 10 yrs or so. http://www.spf.basf.com/products.phphttps://prosoco.com/products/hard-surface-care/water-repellents/

Also it can be difficult to turn of feelings so roommates not cleaning, dirtying up floors, walls it may get under the skin.

Ultimately having a little skin in the game on your end let's the contractor know you're serious. 

Tenants who have pets know that it's hard to find a good rental that accepts pets so it's also possible to have a longer term tenant if you accept pets.I would say that you should plan on having to replace the carpets, but you will probably want to shift over to all hard surface flooring anyway for a long term rental.

In my area I have asked and was told once I remove a certain amount of existing interior wall surface (drywall or plaster) I have to go to 2x6 framing to get the insulation value needed.

@Ryan Redenius that problems stems from high indoor humidity and cold glass surface.