This allows new investors to gain experience while minimizing risk and maximizing returns right from the start. 

After gaining some home equity, I sought to pursue my investing goals.

Accurate records of all expenditures are essential to claim deductions and calculate the cost basis for future capital gains taxes, including depreciation recapture.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.

If you don't care about income and are more of a capital gain kind of guy, prices are already high (as you noticed) and there's plenty of land available to buy so I'm not sure how much is left in the tank.

If your goal is cash flow, then your best bet may be to live in it for 2 years, and then take that tax free gain (250k single person, 500k married) and buy elsewhere. 

My goal is to gain a solid understanding of the process, master deal analysis, and ultimately close my first deal.Right now, I’m focused on learning the basics — from finding motivated sellers to building a strong network of cash buyers.

If not, should I sell stock that I have that has capital gains that would be due on it and offset that?

Sounds more like trying to win a popularity contest, aiming to gain votes and likes from people here that also have something against wholesaling.But OK let me play along.Let's fact-check this:OP: "It’ll truly be strange to even hear people and gurus trying to make big money off it."

The leaders of these must gain unearned trust and authority very quickly.

Most important thing is gaining enough knowledge to be able to purchase properties that's going to add value to the next few years of my life and my kids