Ultimately, deals are going to depend largely on quantity you are looking for and if you prefer running line (always available) products over discontinued. 

Typically a wholesaler buys items in quantity and then sells to a retailer (or possibly an upstream wholesaler). 

I like quality over quantity, so properties that outpace inflation with their appreciation, are under market value at purchase, and cashflow give the best IRR.

No one yet in my 5 years in this business could EVER challenge my lead generation system.All leads motivated, all leads free all leads come in without lifting a finger.Nothing beats SEO in quantity and quality and costs.

Adhering to budgets which go my portfolio when building high end properties is difficult because material prices vary when trying to find something like blue granite (which I am presently importing from Brazil) or a large quantity of copper. 

Since it’s legal for recreational use many companies or groups have been selling tee shirts that come with a “Free Gift” which is a bag of weed and depending on your t shirt price determines the quantity/ quality.   

All quantity, no quality.

Going through a few ups and downs have taught me a few principles including: (1) quality is better than quantity (Franco bought a fixer in A neighborhood rather than in a C neighborhood); (2) appreciating markets appreciate for a reason (i.e. people want to live there) (Franco chose to buy in LA rather than in some other state with low prices, bad weather and limited prospects for economic growth; and (3) everything you need to know you learned watching the Wizard of Oz (i.e. make the most of the opportunities at your front door) (Franco is making most of the opportunity presented by buying a SFR with an ADU, essentially a duplex for income generation). 

Typically absentee owners have lower response rates but the lists are great because there is such a large quantity of high equity/absentee to mail to that although the response rate is lower, the large size makes it great for scaling.Typically tax liens, probates, and pre-foreclosure lists are much smaller but have higher response rates.

It is better to be proficient in a few areas than to be all over the map driving in circles...quality over quantity.