For those that wrestled with this question as they started out, would you be willing to provide the name of an attorney - ideally one based in Massachusetts (in case I want to sit down with the person)?

Houses where the copper is ripped out/ electrical are ideal.  

Get at least three to five revolving accounts (credit cards or unsecured credit lines).According to FICo, this is an "ideal" mix of (consumer) credit (10% of FICo calculations):•Home Loan (Mortgage)•Two Auto Loans•Three to five credit cards (revolving)•Two to three installment loans (personal loan, etc.)Hope this helps ...

I am a project manager for a high-end real estate development firm, so a value-add opportunity would be ideal, but on top of the down-payment, added capital expenses seem unrealistic for me. 

Zero debt - of any kind - is an ideal, but rarely achieved either quickly or easily.Remember also that equity represents money which is not working for you.

@Michael Mazzella   yes crowdfunders and other big folks entering the HML space have crushed rates.. so for the very best borrowers its a good day.PG is for sure... with the folks I deal with.  

My brother in law did nothing but save for the future, and he was great at it unfortunately he suffered a stroke and has never been the same, that being said his family told me they wish they could have gone on more trips and done more things together  instead of pinching every dime . 

And yes, I don't think a December replacement is the ideal solution, but if it keeps up at 60+ degree weather, I don't think they'd mind. 

*Confetti trickles across the blissful New Years’ sky, backlit by *sparkling fireworks* *A passionate kiss* at the stroke of midnight, etc, etc..

The most successful wholesalers (the ones I deal with) and the only ones who have any business doing it are the ones with huge buyers lists, primarily from opt-ins so they are not generally marketing the property to the general public, they are marketing it to their list which probably cost them  thousands of dollars or more to build.