@Robert FreebornFirst year:Real Estate Course: $420 (Rockwell), there are cheaper schools out there.Written Test: $125Finger Prints: $30Realtor's Union dues: $620 (Optional depending on Brokerage)NWMLS dues: $480Supra: $75 activation + $15 a month = $255Office fees: $65 a month or $780 (Will vary depending on Brokerage and Model)Total: $2,710 Additional Cost:Signs: This will vary depending on Brokerage and if you are on a team or notBusiness Cards: Depends on what you wantEvery two years after that you will have a certain amount of CE that you have to accomplish, but if you take advantage of free education hours put on by Title Companies and other outlets, you can reduce your cost. *** Fact ***If you sell one house a year, it pays for itself...

I agree that it's a good thought to keep it in your name because of the re-connection fee, but if the water gets turned off due to the tenant not paying, that's the tenant's fault.

That's where I don't like the 10k fee.

I bought it all cash, and below you'll see the details:List Price: $60,000Purchase Price: $51,500Wholesale fee: $4,000Closing costs: $1,083Gross Rent/Month: $300Lease term: 10 yearsCoC Return: 6.4%Again, not the most attractive numbers, but the tradeoff is that the property management company will deal with tenants and maintenance, and I'll have constant flow of cash for the next 10 years.

When I do a google search of auction dot come I see so many bad reviews for hidden fees, delayed closing and some refusal to sell even though they met the minimum price. 

If you are able to get a loan, I would bet your leverage would only be 50-60%, so you are looking at 150k -250k. net of fees.

What kind of hidden obstacles are there  such as zoning restrictions?   

They include cell-based meter communication in their monthly fee which, based on the features that I want, looks like it will cost just under $18/month for my triplex.

@Brannon Randle check Louisiana's real estate laws, but in many states you don't need a real estate license to wholesale, which is essentially assigning rights in a contract for a fee.

The best thing you'll get from some of the intros is a few useful materials that will whet your appetite for more information.Your money might be better spent if you can partner with a mentor or coach who can walk you through your first deals in exchange for a fee.