You also don't want to get into the game of discounting rent. 

You'll find that quite a few engineers turn to real estate as it's just a numbers game and we're all good at math.

A bit about myself and my interests: I am an aspiring REI from Atlanta, GA with a multitude of focused skills; including copy writing, intermediate marketing, product development, website customization, graphic design, video editing and audio mixing/ editing.Currently, I own and operate a company where we connect and develop web based solutions. 

I started investing in real estate about 18 months ago but I have acquired 7 single family homes that I manage myself so just Get In The Game and GO FOR IT!

bottom line is they talk a great game give you terms that you think you found a fold mine..etc.. nothing more than a sophisticated Nigerian  prince scam.

@Karan Malhotra I think @Jay Hinrichs and I are on different pages of the same book.I was probably getting too far in to the weeds to stick with the "general requirements" theme @Timothy Albright set up.I was simply putting the info out there that a hard money lender is going to require some "skin in the game".

seems like that is a bank refi situation not a raise private money so the owners have little to no skin in the game

BiggerPockets forums is a great start, listen to podcasts on away games and gym workouts, join a local REIA in your area, jump on some webinars.  

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

If all the tenants sign consent forms as part of the lease agreement, then any conversations the tenant is in will be fair game to record.