I've also considered the idea of rehabbing the place while I lived there so that increases my partnership value.Theoretically would anyone find value in this trade off to get a lower down payment and have an unlicensed  "contractor" with skin in the game and a personal desire to do a good job rehabbing?

Most private lenders are going to want you to have some skin in the game, or they are on the hook 100% for your deal.

Will never ever goo back to just first/deposit.From an underwriting standpoint, the more skin in the game the tenant has in it from the beginning the easier it will be for the landlord to have them fulfill the obligations of the lease.

Nonetheless, most Sponsors do have skin in the game - their reputation.

If you have skin in the game I think a Hard Money Lender will be able to fund the Rehab.  

I’m very new to the real a state, I have no skin in the game yet, but I’m very serious about proceeding on this road.

I gave him a proposal to have his commission cost baked into the end profit of the flip so he has more skin in the game and incentive to get us the proposed $325k after reno sale.

In having a discussion with a seasoned RE Investor this past week and picking his brain on the structure of his business I really deduced his success down to three main relationships:#1- He has a realtor/partner(he has skin in the game) who handles buying and selling, along with finding deals.#2- He has a "money guy" who provides him a line of credit.

They have more skin in the game then you do.Make sure you get clear title.

They have more skin in the game then you do.Make sure you get clear title.