Although I think my winning bid was a fair price and would not want to go higher, I would hate it if someone came in with $100 more and won the house.Thank you for answering!

YOu as the buyer showing proof of your ability to pay (through actual bank statements with cash and/or closed sale transaction proof showing you are a proven all cash buyer that closes will instill confidence in the wholesaler and allow them to perhaps make less on the deal but can do more deals knowing they have a quality buyer in hand is a win win.

Win win for everyone. 

Would the best bet be for me to just park a chunk of that money in a high yield savings account until tax time?

It was a win/win because with my guests going to dinner with a $50 gift certificate they felt like they were getting their meal paid for but the owner of the restaurant once told me that my average $50 gift certificate holder would spend a minimum of $75 while they were there on extras like appetizers and alcohol purchases that were typically big mark up items for him.

Personally, I'm betting my own money on it, looking for investments now that our inventory has creeped up to about 4 months supply, which is still pretty low compared to most markets.  

This is known as “speculating,” and it isn’t much better than getting in your car, driving to Vegas, and betting all your money at the poker table.

I just got 900 for a 1 br in EC, and 1700 for a 4 br in Lee Harvard, tenant pays ALL.I dont want to get into a whose rent is bigger than whose competition, I'm sure you'll win. 

While it may take some bravery to invest in a neighborhood that isn't yet fully revitalized, you could be on the winning end in a few years once home values rise.

I agree that networking is your best bet and aligning with a mentor is a great idea.