It wasn’t ideal, but it was the only way to keep the deal alive.I made the drive to her small town, met her at a local bank, and had the paperwork notarized.

Sounds like the house is not local to you, OP.

People trying to “wholesale” who lack knowledge of real estate principles, real estate law, the local real estate market, the market for the property type they’re trying to wholesale, etc, CAN NOT WHO;ESALE ETHICALLY no matter what they do.  

I would recommend tuning into Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast and going to local meetups. 

Look into connecting with some local investors, they typically have meet-ups often and swap stories and different strategies.

With all the negative comments and concerns over the houses not being completed per the contract dates, perhaps all the investors should speak to a local real estate attorney and see if they can get their money back or other concessions. 

I take a slightly different approach and try to partner with local vendors and get commission/kick backs. 

Build a strong team, prioritize cash flow, and take the time to understand the local market and regulations, especially for development projects.

According to their website, the company’s holdings include RadioShack, Pier 1, Stein Mart, Linens-N-Things, and Modell’s Sporting Goods.To raise capital, Retail Ecommerce Ventures turned to retail investors across the country.

Find a local meetup is your first step.