A good strong offer and the ability to close is what it takes.[2] And with Pics some people might be more inclined to sell to black family (or some other race) (to "feel" like they are giving them a hand up--illegal too)///look at all of the volunteers for Habitat for Humanity and such--they never come out and swing a hammer for free for me.

We paid cash, and got most of our supplies from habitat restore, salvage stores, and clearance markets.   

Just an Idea,  it might be worth checking habitat for humanity Restore.

I would also advise getting any kind of hands-on experience you can.....offer to help friends with their remodels, take the free classes at Home Depot, volunteer for Habitat, Etc....this is how you really make money in RE (IMO)

Been working as Construction Crew Lead for Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County through Americorps, the position comes to an end in September and I have been offered the position part time, 2 days a week to continue to help with the builds.

They sell in 16 foot sections but at the local store when I shop they will cut these as needed since I'm only using a small truck for hauling.Got a Habitat for Humanity store where your reside? 

Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity or similar.

@Deirdre Cullen whatever habitat restore sells because it isn't a big investment.   

Just spitballing more ideas: become a real estate agent, or an appraiser, or a home inspector, or volunteer at Habitat for Humanity building houses, join a local investors meetup, or non-local meetup for that matter if they have zoom! 

It happens, but the funny part was that then they went to habitat and picked a door up they were going to install to replace our two year old door with.