$300K should allow you to buy a duplex/2-unit and both doors should be offering a profit even at 15% down.If you are in a situation where you are getting hit with high taxes, high rate, low rents it might be a "Walk away deal".I have to have conversations daily talking people out of buying a particular home because its a bad deal.

This is the lowest barrier to entry that I could think of while using only my own resources.

Hi Matthew, start with any free resources we have like social media etc. follow industry leaders and maybe you might interested in my book happy rich and healthy book not just for real estate but also start building wealth without sacrificing your health.

Does TN now offer free utilities? 

That's why it's not selling.In most markets, your Maximum Allowable Offer (MAO) to a seller should be no more than:        MAO = (70% * ARV) - Repairs - Wholesale_Fee        MAO = (0.7 * 290K) - 40K - Wholesale_Fee        MAO = 203K - 40K - Wholesale_Fee        MAO = 163K - Wholesale_Fee               - OR -        MAO + Wholesale_Fee = 163KSo, you'd need to get this under contract with the seller at under $163K to make any money at all as a wholesaler.At $200K you're NEVER going to get any interest from experienced rehabbers.This is also why you probably got no resistance or pushback from the seller.

I have been appreciating the Bigger Pockets wealth of information, and in fact has been a key resource to bolster our confidence and continue making strides towards more investment property.

And house-hacking is the quickest way to build wealth in real estate from scratch.At the risk of sounding like an agent angling for your business, I would offer a word of caution using your friend, unless he or she really knows the nuances of what you're looking to do. 

Owners mistakenly ASSUME all PMCs offer the exact SAME SERVICES and PERFORM those services EXACTLY THE SAME WAY, so price is the only differentiator – so, they often select the first PMC they call or that calls them back!

you've come to the right place - lots of great people and resources here

Another option could be to talk with the local cable provider to see what kind of marketing package they will offer.