Since the rehab guy doesn't have skin in the game and already took the cash out split, they can just walk away, leaving the money guy to pay for that extra $18000 that was given to rehab guy. 

I might argue the big banks will screw you more because they see you as a number whereas a private lender has more skin in the game and wants your future business.  

Partner with someone who has skin in the game and do the deal together.  

If you have any money to bring to the table, that would definitely help out in finding a partner as you'd also have som "skin" in the game.Or you can also partner with more experienced flippers, by bringing your time and energy to the table, doing work that your experienced partner does not have time to do.Good luck!

You can also use a step system where at certain points more of the EM in increments becomes non-refundable thereby increasing the skin for the buyer each day the closing gets closer.

You have to have thick skin in order to survive the emotional rollercoaster.

This way you have skin in the deal.

Second, I liked that with Roofstock there is a partner to help me with the due diligence and there is someone else who has skin in the game when I buy a place.

There are literately dozens and dozens of ways to skin this cat. 

But what's tough is that most HMLs will not allow junior lienholders, mainly because they want you personally to have skin in the game.