When markets change they have a massive nut to pay and start bleeding cash to stay afloat.I see this with large commercial brokerages when cycle sales is hot the champagne is flowing and companies can't hire on people fast enough then downturn happens and they have to merge with other companies to survive or go out of business all together. 

When you go deep sea fishing for the big fish, you hire a guide so you don't ruin your trip.

I knew it was not a really great deal but for my first property my goal was to learn as much as i can and atleast break even. my question is now that i know that MLS deals are hard to find and the ones you find are taken on the spot by bigger fish, where do you source your deals?

😊Clearwater is an attractive spot for vacationers, but even as a local, we stay out there several times a year…fishing, riding bikes, beach bar hopping and playing some vball.

By the time you pay them a fair wage, and the labor burden (payroll taxes, etc) and the Workers Comp, you will have a huge weekly payroll nut to crack.

That being said, financing is a tough nut to crack.

Move on...there is plenty of fish in the sea.

Who knows.Another option would be to buy a small parcel and slowly build a house with/for him and pull owner permits.Am I nuts?

Rebuilding the nut I have saved would be frustrating but I believe otherwise if I can get this house at the right price I would have no issue selling it.

I am not a big fish.