Yes, commercial lenders will want to know you have enough skin in the game (down payment), enough experience, and capital reserves for vacancies/ when things break.

If you want to show "skin in the game" to the investor, show them how you sign a personal guarantee for the hard money loan and that should be enough to show that interests are aligned.

Single Story 3 bed 2 bath 1585 sqftPaint Interior - 1585 sq ft - $1.9/sq ft = $3,000Scrape popcorn ceiling, texture, and paint - 1350 sq ft - $3.1/sq ft = $4,185Remove old carpet and install vinyl plank flooring - 1175 sqft - $5/sqft = $5,875Replace carpet with new carpet - 410 sq ft - $2.2/sqft = $910Remove dead grass and install sod - 1850 sqft - $2.1/sq ft = $3,850New two car garage door/opener/track and installation = $1,500New window and installation = $250 eachBathroom remodel - vanity, mirror, light, toilet, demo and build back new tub or shower with ceramic tile - $4,500Kitchen remodel - 30sqft quartz, 12ft upper cabinets, 12ft lower, backsplash, sink/garbage disposal, $9kThere are many more items to be repaired/replaced but I realize this is turning into a long post so I will stop there.

I cant speak to VA however in seattle I know probably 5-6 community banks who could do something like this:- 75% of ARV - after repair value, they will only lend up to a max of this on what they percieve your project will ultimately be worth- 90% LTC - loan to cost (acquisition + rehab cost) as they want you to have min 10% skin in the game so to speak  some banks are more conservative and they might say " we're a 75/80 lender," this means they are 75% ARV and 80% LTC or in order words they want you to have 20 cents skin in the game for every 80 cents they distribute to you during the construction or during the loan process- usually 1.5 to 2.0 points- usually 4.5 - 6.5% rate interest only for 12 months with extensions at cost - much cheaper than HML  as HML can range from 12-15% + 3-6 pts probably - they usually reimburse after satisfactory inspection (usually $125-175 bucks per inspection paid by you) - this is important since you have to have the cash to front the initial first phase of rehab and you will get "reimbursed," after its completed then on to the next phase.

They do it at increased costs, so if you have the money to use a "normal" HML that requires skin in the game in the form of a down payment, you will find better profits - but perhaps at the cost of cash-on-cash return.

Experience as well as how much skin you put in will determine your quotes. 

This way they make 50,000 commission then they get it all that first time as they have already paid 25,000.Just like rehabbing a house with a hard money loan people want others to have skin in the game. 

There's a lot of ways to skin the cat, but here are the important items they need to know:1) How is their money secured when lending on your real estate project?

If there's no skin in the game it spells trouble all around. 

Last but not least, check your ego at the door and reach out to people that have skin in the game.