There's more than one way to skin a cat."

Your $3 to $5K down payment does not equate to 10% down and most sellers would be more comfortable with more skin in the game on your part.

This is going to be a very blunt "Come to Jesus" post, if your skin is feeling thin today then please stop reading here. 

And there is delayed financing, that's when you purchase with cash and you can cash out right away, but not to exceed your purchase price, so again that's not what you are doing here.It makes my skin crawl when investors work with crappy loan officers that don't understand REI and get crappy advice.  

Otherwise, see what you are able to afford financially, and possibly put more skin in the deal for a down payment to buffer your equity position.Also I'd recommend making a plan as to what you are expecting Real Estate to do for you down the road, derive a road map, and have an exit strategy.Best of luck to you @Alan Ferrante!

I grew a thick skin right quick.

You could reason this is true because the renters aren't "invested" where they live so they don't have any skin in the game so to speak. 

Critical tenant has no skin in the game and their opinion just doesn't matter.You might counter sometime with "If you would like to pay for the services, then I might consider having you give the orders..."

I try to screen as many people over the phone as possible, but those who insist on coming  I want them to have a little skin in the game and show me their sincere.

No skin off my nose.As I've said before, if you need $50 a month extra, you have much bigger problems.And why would you risk a new unknown tenant if you have a known quantity in the property.