Granted I'm in KS and our labor is likely cheaper than where you are but it really wasn't that bad. $1600 for everything (two pipes even- the expensive part is the excavating, you can dig it up yourself if you need cheap and have time and energy on your hands).

Is it better to buy a fixer upper and actively work on it as I'm living in it so I can increase the appreciation for when I sell and move onto the next, or is it more possible to allow appreciation to occur naturally and build up my property ownership over the course of years and sell out in the end.

Then build up a good history of payment pay-down. 

During the lease term the individual will have time to build up their credit or save money for a down payment and at the end of their lease they should be able to purchase the property.

Use your own money out of the HELOC to buy it or put down funds, then use a construction loan to repair and then sell and put funds back to the HELOC, and build up your bank account.

I was hoping if you guys can answer my questions.I own a townhouse as a primary residence and have some equity build up.

At the same time, I agree with @Kath Marie at some point you will need to build up some capital to deploy.   

Still trying to build up some capital by doing some flips first.Following for others' advice.

I would also like to do some wholesaling to build up my own personal capitol.

Also, Chase Ink approved me for $20K as well.