Any wise investor will want to offer less than what's owed.Seller financing might work if you want to take it on yourself.

The less of your own money you can use, the better, given that you buy WISELY.

My main concern though is, is it even possible/wise to strike a deal for owner financing when a home is in the beginning stages of foreclosure?

Don't include the income that you'd be hoping to get out of the HELOC.If the answer is yes, then that means your DTI should not be unduly affected.Then, the added income from wisely investing your HELOC would be the bonus!

Paying cash may help investors sleep better at night (ignorance being bliss) but losing all that money every month is certainly not wise investing.A wise investor maximises leverage to generate highest returns on cash and holds a reserve in other vehicles to be used for the same security as dead equity while still earning maximum returns.

Numbers wise, it seems like there could be an investor looking for a moderate-term passive investment for 8-9%, but maybe I'm off base. 

I get really frustrated when I pay for work and it ends up not being to my quality standards or time frame, so sometimes even when I know it would be better $$ wise to hire someone out, I just do it myself

FHA yes .. but two loans no money down bad fico no have not seen that.that product is needed in certain markets like in MS the average credit score is 600 you need some version of sub prime other wise half the state will never own a home and probably 70% of the state.

Most title companies if your just one off buyer wont do the note for you.. they do them for me but we are a top tier client.So you have the note sent to title they prep the closing statement and deed and put your note in the file as well.. when its ready to close the title company is going to contact your lender provide wire instructions and tell them how much they need to wire into close.you going to either go in, or have a mobile notary come to you.. sign notarize the deed of trust ( Notes are generally not notarized or need to be  although does not hurt to do it but like I said not common and does not make them any stronger to notarize them)you sign... your lender wires in the dough  seller signs returns their docs.. and next day or so when all docs are together it closes and you now own it subject to the loan.the title company will then send the Original signed note and copy of HUD etc to your lender.. you get copy of hud.. your the owner lender is the bank. simple done every day.on the West coast we DONT use attornies to close and we do NOT do wet closings I have not been to a closing basically in 25 years.. occasionally if I am around the title company I will go in and sign but NEVER is the buyer and SEller in the same room and NEVER are checks distrusted on the spot like they do back east.For one I would NOT accept a check from a closer attorney or other wise I ONLY accept wires as a seller ...

Knowing my timeline, do you think it's feasible (and wise) to start by going hard-core into wholesaling, then build up into fix & flips (for fast profit), and then rolling all of that income into buy and holds with the BRRRR method?