Despite numerous attempts to reach the listing agent, we faced silence.

Tax law has, nevertheless, developed complexities to contend with attempts to circumvent it. 

Probably not.....In my long career, I have seen a few attempts at homeowner painting....never have I seen even one come out with the quality of a professional paint job.If you absolutely do not have the $$ to pay a real painter, well then I guess you have to DIY....but you will regret it...This 100%.

He is also amazing at never following up, never reaching out or providing updates, and stellar at avoiding all communication attempts from the customer.

I too have attempted to find parterns for deals and played with JV allocations to get this to the right place... and its still a work in progress.The answer seems to be in the amount of marketing you are willing to put out there.

Of course not.If you consider the fact that if you have no money, you would be better off going to McDonald's, getting a job, working for 4 months saving up a decent marketing budget, and THEN attempting wholesaling, your chances of success FAR supersede the chances of doing what is cheap (but with a terrible success rate).People, understand this.You do not seek success based on what you have.You need to figure out WHAT YOU NEED to become successful and get it.

You could partner with other investors to get the project complete, or you can negotiate the price down and attempt to wholesale the deal to another investor. 

I'm attempting to find lending for my first real estate deal on a single family rental investment property.

I am a W-2 employee with a 401K plan with my employer.What I am reading, if I were to attempt the SOLO-K, first I would have to show (prove) earned income of some business activity.  

I have attempted to contract a property where the heir was to receive title to the property.