I am a newbie to the apartment building world and just starting to look at deals, being a flipper I am drawn to value add deals but not totally hammered.  

This is one of the major weaknesses of hands-off renovation today I don't think this site pays enough attention to this changing economic reality in the rush to tell people the old story, that they too can make it in real estate without ever swinging a hammer or hanging a piece of drywall.

You don't need to know how to swing a hammer but you do need some level of understanding of basic construction and how to speak a contractors language.

You can most definitely get into REI without swinging a hammer!

It hasn't changed anything in Indianapolis and we have Two Chicks and a Hammer. 

If you have experience in remodeling or are good with the hammer or have connection with people that can do it for you than you can become a flipper and use a Hard Money Lender (HML) or you can become a live in flipper and move every 2 years.

I have absolutely no experience in real estate and I've maybe hammered 4 nails in my entire life.

Typically if that part is hammered out upfront a 30 day close is not an issue. 

He has done lots of rehabs and will tell you he  doesn't know which end or the screw to hit with the hammer. 

My advice would be to take action and drop the hammer on a property.