Most everyone will want you to have more skin in the game than just work .. so .. go make some money and get some experiance along with learning everything you can along the way .. and you shall succeed.. 

You need a guide so that you don't get hurt.I've always found learning the local market dynamics for my own knowledge is important to my success.

I have found that if members of your team (up and down the vertical) put skin in the game, then interest are better aligned.

I've heard that they like to see some skin in the game

So that means they earn 30% of your total gross rents with zero skin in the game.Here is an issue you probably already experienced; agents returning security deposits before repairs, but when the next tenant wants to move in you suddenly have to do some repairs.

But if that's not your bag of tea then look into a reputable hard money or private money loans for your flip, most require or like you to have skin n the game but keep $5k aside for emergency funds.

Amanda, Hello and welcome to Bigger Pockets .. i am sorry you didn't get much more of a welcome ... normally there are a bunch of people giving advice and welcoming someone .. i am sure it was just timing .. anyway i hope you have taken advatange of this sites resources .. it is filled with so much information along with podcasts and advice it has a very big library and archive .. have you read any books .. like rich dad poor dad for example .. you are actually doing pretty good by owning two homes already .. if your really interested in doing just flips then maybe you sell one and use the equity ( i am assuming there us some ) as your rehab money on the flip property that you get a hard money loan on .. see most want you to have some skin in the game .. so if you for example find a 100k house but can by it for 50k and maybe it needs 25k in rehab .. most hard money lenders will only loan newbie's 65% of ARV which would be $65k  in that example which leaves 10k plus fees on your part .. not much of a profit on that example but i just used it for simple math as example .. there are some lenders that advertise up to 80% or even 95% ltv .. i can not suggest any of them because i am involved with a partner with funds my flips 100% including rehab but for that I give up 50% of my profits .. i met him and other investors willing to fund my flips right here on this website .. i just put a property under contact yesterday and hope to have another under contract by weeks end .. but , if i can help you in anyway with advice and such, heck ..maybe even partner up on a property or two that your friend finds .. so, you can get started .. then just reach out .. we live pretty close to each other .. good luck and God Speed , Michael Short 

There are plenty of different ways to make great returns investing locally and even more plentiful ways to get skinned alive as an out of state investor.

There are people on here looking for something that meets one specific criteria, when in reality, REI is dynamic and there are many moving parts.

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