Even if they don't realize how much money you're costing them now, someone will tell them eventually and I don't think your canned wholesaling response is going to do much to repair the damage. 

That will usually satisfy them and they won't care or even mention earnest money since they know I can close.STEPS TO WHOLESALINGRESEARCH AND CHOOSE YOUR WHOLESALE MARKETWherever you live is typically the best place to start wholesaling.

I have just read a book about this, and a business owner spoke about his employees who would take "multiple taxi trips in one day" or "dine at the most expensive restaurants even when alone" its just something that will happen.

Even if I wanted another duplex, this still applies.

So why would you pay even close to what they paid at the peak of the market in 2022?

I will use the 2 weeks off I have every month to researchI have owned a rental property in the past and it was extremely lucrative for me, and I didn’t even know what I was doing then haha! 

Construction could take a year, with permits stretching up to 15 months, a timeline that’s still attractive given the return potential.For developers seeking even bigger returns, a lot split project might be the way to go.

Maybe you implied the underlying conversion of 1245 recapture into 1250 recapture, but this was not articulated in your example and was not even your point, it seems.

Random example from this week:Sell at a loss or rent at a lossOn the other hand, if you are willing to put some time in by traveling to the market, spending time getting a network set up, screening dozens or even hundreds of properties, and taking the time to get set up right, you increase your chance of success.  

BiggerPockets also has a calculator to analyze deals, and I highly recommend you start this as soon as possible, even if you are not ready to buy.