We're starting to think perhaps our picture quality could be what's hindering that initial push to get them to walk.

I could see doing so if you had cash available so that having your EMD wouldn't hinder you from making an offer on a non-pending deal AND it was an extra sweet deal.

and I tell them that sometimes that's actually a hinderance if you want to be a wholesaler.

You could design a policy where you still maintain the tax-free loan capabilities, but the death benefit would be so high, the cost of the insurance itself would hinder the growth of the policy.The concept is to "squash" the death benefit as low as possible to promote cash value growth, and that's usually done with spreading the contributions over a longer period of time.I can run numbers for you if you'd like to reach out.

(Flipping, rehabs, Subject 2, forclosures, etc)Has anyone experienced it in a way that hindered your efforts?

It comes with responsibilities that will hinder you and will just delay your getting started.  

Normally it consists of a just a sewer-dye test but some local municipalities are far more comprehensive to the point of hindering sales altogether due to cost of fixes.

He should be helping you get a loan, not hindering you.  

I have read a few books on real estate investing and wholesaling however I do not have a mentor which I feel may hinder me when starting out.

Its specifically the refinance (or purchase to start) that is hindering my ability to really ramp up my portfolio.