Lastly, I'm frugal by nature so I have no experience on how best to estimate rolling expenses of owning properties in Austin so if there are some insights on this, they would be greatly appreciated.To give this a bit more meat, let's say I'm estimating a 4 bed/2 bath duplex in East Austin.Looking forward to learning more about you and your experience :)Thank you!

Would love it if every domes day member would sale their property and go to Mexico and live for 1/5th the price for RE there.It is tempting sometimes to think that way.A nice little house with a maid that cleans your house and cooks for $750.00 a month total.

Now you are cooking with fire.  

I'm sure the stupid questions will come spewing out of me at some point, but as of now, I'll just ask this...For a newbie, what would you all consider to be the Three Best Books out there for a beginner to begin reading?  

Even if you trim off the fat, you will only have the meat from that original cut.

I think when interviewing them the questions you need to ask are obviously how they get compensated, and “Do you have fiduciary duty to me at ALL times?”

This property requires an all in for me at $50k.

Also other contractors are quoting me at $75,000 - $82,000 which is well over what he said he could do it for. 

Outside of purchasing a property which is not achievable for me at this time?

If you as a wholesaler are getting it off MLS and not getting a big discount, there isn't much meat on the bone.