The company's leadership must have "skin in the game."

Sometimes you just have to think, would I trust someone with $500k with no skin in the game or history to show that they will repay me? 

What I can describe accurately is how the workshop itself was run — and that experience convinced me I would never want to enter a long-term business relationship with Robert Orfino.From the moment he started speaking, his tone was aggressive and dismissive.

Muro and Wittengal already have their personal wealth attached to various judgements so if they are hiding money in off shore bank accounts they are going to need it, for sure.

@Erik Roth - Your point on a lender justifiably wanting the borrower to have decent credit and some skin-in-the-game is valid - and nothing in my comment suggested otherwise.

Hopefully, the tenant follows through, but even if things shift again, you’ve taken steps to protect yourself while keeping the tone respectful.

Bottom line is I'm a bit wary of getting into this again and would really need to be sure that the first lien positions were solid, the borrower had enough skin in the game and the property was in an area where resale or rental would not be problematic in the event I had to foreclose. 

It can be "little" down or "someone else's money down" but don't make the mistake of thinking you don't have to have some skin in the game.

preforeclosures, probate, tax sales, etc. tons of different ways to skin the cat. 

They do not have any skin in the game and are just automating the process of searching various databases.