The other options you are playing with fire as using a HELOC that is paying interest is essentially buying with 100% financing.Having no skin in the game has always been a high risk strategy and people were able to get away with it the past few years due to the money supply and inflation but I would not use that as the measuring stick.

@Daniel Colletti yeah I hear most lenders frown upon borrowed cash, they want you to have some skin in the game...

Even hard money lenders will want to see some skin in the game and will not lend to owner-occupied properties.

As it was my first opportunity to get some skin in the game, I jumped on the deal and we agreed on a 5 year ballon (4% rate, amortized at 15 yrs).

Yes, joining J & G is expensive, but everybody's paid the fee and put skin in the game.

Many of the late '90s/early 00's projections have already failed to pan out.Look, if you wanted to argue that climate change would exacerbate drought conditions in CA, to the point that Southern CA would be a declining market in 30 years, I think maybe you could make that point.But to argue that the Midwest will somehow become milder is simply not supportable.  

But usually the first lender will want to see your own skin in the game so there's a limit to what they'll allow.

AFter 6 months of owning the property (seasoning) many lenders will use the equity in the property as your "skin in the game".  

This way you have skin in the game, since most investor's don't want you to put up no capital.However, if you're looking to keep the portfolio small and minimize headaches, one good deal might be best.

With this being said, my 20% into the deal may be included in the total Rehab costs so I would have skin in the game.