They usually put (in my opinion) insufficient skin in the game (which financially misaligns the sponsor from the investor). 

I would probably have to leave the business in order to do this deal because agents would get creamed by any consumer who later decided they had got a "bad deal".

I would be able to put skin in the game however would not be able to fund the entire project.

I label you a CON.Because in my experience only CON's go to the extents and actions you have shown here to OBFUSCATE, distort, spin and use insults of things like skin color or ageism as a defense. 

An unsophisticated lender might send all the construction funds to you.Other than for a refinance, or from an unsophisticated lender, you, or more typically your contractor, will receive funds in draws as you complete your project.Most, but not all, first-position lenders will only lend a percentage of your purchase price and expect you to wire in some amount of cash as your “skin in the game.”

I'm not at all familiar with any of those markets so I have no skin in the game here but I'm curious what strategies or applied logic you used to help narrow it down to those areas.

I like Marco and have spoken and had drinks with him over the years quite a few times.Decent bloke and pretty straight shooter.The mastermind stuff is legit as someone that I have looked up to and would consider a friend and mentor even tho we haven't connected in a while is Eddie Wilson (Aspire, Think Realty, Power Room, etc...)Cream of the crop business man, entrepreneur and philanthropist.Marco is affiliated with them so that side of the investment IMO would be safe to say the least.Never was a fan of OPM or venture capital.Raised $500,000 once for a very high risk tech project and got F#$@%ed by my CTO.Was skimming investors capital from the top that should have went to the developers...I shut it down as soon as I found out and paid back my investors (Even tho I heavily stressed that they would probably loose).Now I have someone throwing at me an unsecured LOC of between $250,000 - $500,000 at 12% interest.Can turn it around quite low risk and double doing deals over 12 months but I'm still hesitant lol.Just in case something goes wrong, I'd rather loose my own capital that somebody else's.Call me crazy but it is what it is lol just secure it unilaterally to your projects if being unsecured bothers you. 

I have been in NNN 21 years and never have seen a seller carry for 25% and then the lender providing the other 75% as first position with a loan.You would have no skin in the game. 

With fix & flips, unless you have a financial partner (or family member, etc) you potentially could have no skin in the game besides sweat equity, but if you are working with any lenders and going at it alone, you will need something up front. 

Serve warm with ice cream!