Real estate is seldom a short term play - in fact, other than rank speculation in Vegas style gambling, no investment is going to make you rich, or financially independent in a couple of years. 

Not even a bad lead called.I understand that I am supposed to spend 3 months and many mailing campaigns to see results, but it seems like that would be a huge gamble at this point considering there was nothing to show for the first round.Any thoughts on online marketing, auctions, etc? 

Gambling belongs in the casinos.

Too much gamble to me. 

Purchase price: $80,000 Cash invested: $3,000 Contributors: Cory Gamble SFH - 3bed/1bath home.

And yeah, it was brilliant, people were awe struck by finished product, point is it's big $ gambles, BIG, if I was wrong that coulda been a $40k+ "whoopsie". 

You're taking a gamble.  

If so probably worth the gamble.  

Yet it feels like the gamble might be too big, especially once you open up state databases and visually see sinkhole incidents throughout the neighborhoods.

Only question is if X amount is worth the gamble.