He laughed, reminding me I hadn't any "skin in the game" since he was proposing to fund the deal 100% so what was I so worried about if we paid a little higher price if it meant "getting the deal". 

An asset-based private or HM lender would be most interested in the subject property CMV and ARV(moreso) then how much skin the game you have and sometimes they are concerned with how experienced you are.

Investors invest because of trust in you regardless of having financial skin in the game.  

For example, if I found a smoking deal, turnkey $100k property, the lender wanted some skin in the game from me and require $25k down from me, I want to be able to get that $25k back as soon as possible.

It's great to hear from people with skin in the STR game.

Note that I do not put a lot of time into due diligence until the "contract to hold" meeting, when they put some skin in the game.At the "contract to hold" meeting, I collect an amount equal to one month's rent.

Anymore, they want skin in the game and require separate closings.

I think almost all investors, including myself, would be reluctant to loan 100% where you have zero "skin in the game".If you can't save a few thousand dollars to invest then you're probably not ready to jump in yet.Also, what is your plan to cash them out?

He found a GC and they are building two spec houses, the GC is has some skin in it as he's fronting some of the costs on the builds, but getting a share of the profits.

@Greg H.There is always a different way to skin a cat...Just sayin...done correctly the idea WOULD work....is it risky?...