Shouldn't a legitimate seller, tell you at what price he wants to sell a property?

This is element #1 of my strategy - leverage an existing track record.During our call, I pitched him on me bringing my skills (general business management and marketing/advertising) to the table in exchange for the opportunity to use them - i.e. he would enable me with his skill set and I would help him to scale, using his track record as a springboard to craft a win/win situation.

A competent accountant or tax attorney can file legitimate write-offs, deductions, exchanges and other mechanisms provided by law.

Objective is to purchase a an owner occupied 3/2 duplex or triplex, with a 75-80% ARV (for under $325k; financing 80-85% via conventional mortgage via portfolio lender), in South (north of William Canon) or Northwest Hills of Austin, Texas that generates enough rental income to pay my mortgage, taxes, and expenses enabling me to live rent free for a year and then cash flows positive the year following (so I can purchase my next property).

Borrowers searching for hard money loans often encounter predators or upfront fee loan scams rather than legitimate hard money lenders.

I definitely don't want to insult them but it's a legitimate estimate.

The ITB should have any bonding requirements listed as it would be a legitimate change order to require a contractor to purchase this after the bid.

Just a legitimate opportunity to write articles for small business owners and be paid per article.

Legitimate contractors will not want to even visit the house if you tell them what your expectation of cost is... and they will know after looking that writing an estimate would just be a further waste of time. 

I was able to lever smaller properties I had and show a track record that enabled me to syndicate a $4 million fund, then another $15 million one.