But it could be more difficult if you work 6-80 hours/week and buy properties that require extensive rehab/have lower quality tenants. 

However, using a HELOC to finance your next property will probably be easier (if you're buying another "project") and cheaper (you'll likely get a lower interest rate). 

Always be researching ways to increase your income instead of lowering the expenses.

This owner is not willing to lower the price so I will be walking away from the deal.  

You can lower those appliance costs by waiting for sales or buying floor models.

Current Situation:My offer has been accepted and I have 9 days of due diligence remaining.My Ask:Without reading “The Book on Investing in Real Estate with No (or Low) Money Down” YET...What are some methods/strategies to lower my upfront costs for the down payment, while not getting beat up on interest rates?

In fear it will still remain vacant in August, I've lowered it to $1225.

However, I've also heard that the government is lowering their voucher amounts so that they can provide more vouchers to more families.

Now, there's a lower barrier to entry as the person buying this property may only need to come up with 50k to buy the property with a 10k assignment fee.

Expense, vacancy rate, interest for non-owners occupied seems to be lower than what I know.