Patrick Philip think of it this way. And nothing against wholesalers (good ones supply a tremendous service to REIs and I love them and Agent/brokers like myself) but what do they do find you those deals. I'll tell you. They do what you don't do. Just think they are finding the deal then placing a up charge for their services. If you were to find that deal, no there's no UO charge for you it is money in your pockets. Knock on doors, place signs, direct mail works with an average 2% call back so if your only sending 100 letters once a month it's not going to work for you, make your car a billboard, just be a fanatic for finding deals. The key is to know your criteria, understand how to structure the deals and deals will come. Not everything is pay all cash or get a mortgage trust me. I've never gotten a mortgage for any of my deals. Of course with cash comes flexibility but structuring contracts right brings the same. Some deals your looking for a specific seller that will meet you terms some it's price some both. The fact is while your saying there are no deals, there being made right now. BE persistent.