I guess the real question is if my deductible is $10,000 the chances of me filing a claim are slim to none and not keeping the policy would save me $341 a month.  

The opportunities in Illinois were slim at best. 

Utah's market is insane though so it's pretty slim pickings for flips that we want to take on. 

They also see it as a slim chance to get the deal done so they lack the confidence to really work with you.

Should I even bother to say "I like the house, but only at x$" and leave it at that... some investor working purely cash could make her numbers fit... but not me with some interest cost... and not for my first deal... dont want to do anything too slim on the margins..I would really appreciate insight on how to approach wholesalers in this situation. 

Unfortunately, yes it is slim pickins' these days in SoCal but I know people are scrapping up deals here and there by hustling for them and having a vast network sending them deals because of their reputation.

Welcome as a fellow NYCer a lot of cap rates are slim unless you're doing development  (building from scratch) but then thats a whole circus on its own.

Seems slim out there

If they are that great with a cash offer but not so much with financing, it means the margins are slim.  

From what we seen, any "fixer upper" on the MLS is going to have 20 offers and be bid up to a price that has super slim margins.