@Evan WilliamsRE Pro is only needed is you have losses from rentals that you cannot deduct due to high income limits.The dynamics of taxation that I described remain the same, except your rental losses can be unlocked.

A contractor should also have some skin in the game.

No skin off my back.

Another option could be raising private money from your sphere of influence but I believe you'd still need some skin in the game to make it happen i.e. acquisition experience, construction experience, syndication experience.Some investors partner with folks who can find the deal on their own.

Although new investors who are “scared” about making or managing the investment find solace with other new investors, it is a crutch that brings an unneeded dynamic to the investment.  

All hard money lenders I talk with want skin in the game on the part of the investor, so no gap finding.

Good morning fellow lenders! I was reading an article this morning and it explained the effects traditional mortgage owners are experiencing due to changes in capital markets. I'm new to the lending world so I have no...

I didn’t even have skin in the game by that time because our property had been re-defined as a single family but I was furious that the campaign season threatened to change the “winds” of the thoughtful yearlong discussion.  

Real estate is tough, and we need thick skin.

I use an accountant that specializes in income producing real estate and owned some himself so he has skin in the game.