However if this guy isn’t charging a significant up front cost then maybe try out a month’s worth of calls and see if it helps you. $600 or so seems like short money to me if it actually helps.

Some ideas besides that:Depending on how much equity you have you could do a cash out refinance to get money that way. 

It is a fee that is paid up front, and monthly for the life of the loan.  

It raised a couple of questions in my mind about the risks of wholesaling, namely the implications in the event that you assign a contract and the buyer backs out.It seems to me that Paid at Assignment would both:Result in committed assignees, otherwise they would risk losing the money they paid the assignor, andProvide the assignor with a significant cash cushion against breach of contract if they cannot locate another buyer prior to closing, and ultimately decide to cancel the contract with the property owner.But this raises another question. 

Many sellers will be fine with that (depending on the price they're getting of course), it's just important for them to know about it up front.

Purchase price: $95,000 Cash invested: $30,000 Sale price: $173,000 Purchase price – 95,000Closing costs at purchase & sale - $6800Total renovation costs $21,935Sold for - $173,000Total profit – $49,265https://www.zillow.com/homes/11311-marbern-dr-hagerstown-md_rb/37683475_zpid/https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/M5889931134https://www.redfin.com/MD/Hagerstown/11311-Marbern-Rd-21740/home/15360019 What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

Cash flow can be good.   

The other option, however, is that I can live more or less for free for the rest of the year between a few family members and friends and save that bit of extra cash towards the purchase.The extra cash could either help me jump on a deal sooner or it could be a buffer/money for potential renovation when I move in.

It offers a strong balance of cash flow potential and appreciation.

Purchase price: $95,000 Cash invested: $30,000 Sale price: $173,000 Before moving in we had to remediate some mold in the basement.