I want to be able to inspire the younger generation and show them what is possible no matter what the color of your skin is, where you come from, or what you had or didn’t have growing up.

@Josh Wilson as a pilot in the military you should have a thicker skin.

Your skin will need to thicken substantially over the next few years.

We all know there are more than one ways the skin the cat in this game.

I’ve actually thought of flipping the second house/rehab to come up with all the brrr money to get started but maybe once I get some skin in the game with the first property I can find private lending on the second!

I recommend putting some skin in the deal.

In my opinion, neither site puts enough skin into the game (less than 1% versus a typical 10%+) to properly align themselves with investors.

Even if I end up not owner occupying and just getting rental property, until I have some skin in the game, I'd like any of my future rentals to be local so I can manage them.  

But as with any negotiation you should find out what's most important to them ... is it the amount of "skin in the game" that you bring to the deal, the property itself, your experience, the turn-around time, etc etc?

Typically they want the buyer to have skin in the game for fix and flip deals.