Many of them can’t take the stress and multi faceted degree of volatility that comes with it.

Again, without PM and/or HM, I cannot play the buy and hold game.I guess I'm just confused at which of the REI facets to choose from to start on my endeavor, and it's very frustrating considering I have the knowledge, just not "specific" knowledge. 

The only problem preventing me from pulling the trigger is the negative growth and negative appreciation in those areas and also I just don't see any vital signs that economically things are going to get better in those areas.

Your anonymity is vital, and land trusts can also protect you and your investments from identity thieves. 

I am actually excited about the fact that REI has so many different facets and it will be fun to get involved with everything from wholesaling to flips to someday doing developments/subdivisions.

What is VITALLY important however, is that you hand write the envelopes.

If I do decide to wholesale the property, what figures will be vital in my analysis as to what to offer the seller?

This is a great forum and I am sure it will help you learn many facets of the real estate investment world.

You can check it out here: http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/2933/blog_posts/22169-why-youtube-if-vital-to-your-video-real-estate-marketing-campaign I plan on commenting a lot in the marketing forums.

My target is set...if we can work creatively together to achieve both my goal and yours, let's chat.Contractors, buyers agents, property managers, lenders, fellow investors, inspectors, attorneys, and anyone else vital to the REI game, please reach out.