Then again this would also mean that I'd need to build a small team, and I'd need everyone to perform whereas they're bringing it all in one.Another big thing here is the risk - as I said above I have a fairly pessimistic view about the economy in the next couple of years..

This wouldn't surprise me from a wholesalers point of view.

I view it as a tool in a toolbox to help you "trim the fat" off the bottom of your portfolio, so you can keep growing with new acquisitions. 

It is a complimentary strategy to pull some of your money back and hedge your bet.My view on making money in real estate: Cash Flow is a hedge against corrections.

Once you have a market chosen I'd connect with a realtor/wholesalers in that market through BP or Facebook groups to get a first hand view from them on how their market is performing.

I agree that austin from up close looks like a declining market but from a birds eye view, it makes for great opportunities! 

And I saw firsthand how a seller’s personal view of a potential buyer could impact the deal.

It isn't jumping out of the plane that hurts, in fact it's a pretty nice view, it's hitting the ground that does the damage. 

You don't have to answer that, nor can you because it's subjective, but the point I'm trying to make is that they may not view it as a great deal as it currently exists.

As in most things, It's best to draw from a number of resources to get different points of view.