If you're capable of having skin in the game in your deals, do that.

When you see a overweight person pushing a shopping basket full of ice cream, something doesn't look right. 

Strap the skis to the bottom of it fly up into a back country valley and skin up to the ridge for virgin turns several times. 

Overall though, even self-managing, I can't go from extremely tax-advantaged (my effective tax rate has been negative for 13 years) to being creamed.

That includes rent credits, financing an option price, an agreed lower future price after rents are paid as agreed....anything.Beyond the stated exemptions allowed there is no method to finance, including using your wife's dog in a trust, that circumvents the intent of the DF/SA laws.No, I'm thick skinned but I don't need to address you in that manner at all.Now, if you will excuse me, I'm headed to the bar!

The banks typically do allow a seller held second as long as borrower has skin in the game.

Definitely gotta have a thick skin at times with real estate..

They pay little toward the rent -- very little skin in the game (in my opinion).

keep cranking out students with wild dreams of wealth AT ALL COST, and you will kill it for everyone.Again, no skin in the game on either side. 

Investing and business paper loses, start up costs, etc could be used to count against the income so that the tax rate would be lower and the 10% penalty would not be as painful.Possibly more than one way to skin a cat?