It's important for your mental health that you don't let things like that get under your skin, you run a biz, just like a grocery store will have to toss some expired food, you'll have some losses.

And, if someone discounts good advice based on silly things like where they were born or the color of their skin or how long they've been investing - doesn't change the fact that it was good advice.Just sayin. 

Yes people can raise money without their own cash, but would you give your money to someone with no skin in the deal or significant track record?

In the real world, you don't get to buy properties without any skin in the game. 

As @Charles Press says, there are many ways to skin this cat, and many reasons.  

I am a chef by trade, so have a thick skin.

I think you also have to be someone with pretty thick skin to deal with longer-term tenants. 

Heck take them to the car wash first if you want to, no skin off my back.

Do open houses.....time saver and multiple people at the same time drive competitionBe realist on your price....shop you are like you are a tenant and only compare things that really match..... not just bedroom and bath numbers....need to look at age of unit. location, condition.....when we have skin in the game we tend to get emotional about what the place is worth... the market drives that....not your emotional connectionDO NO BE DESPERATE..... wait for a good candidate, not just A candidate.... vacancy is scary but a bad tenant is a nightmare....

-I split all utilities equally between all roommates so everyone has skin in the game.