You're not willing to do the work if you do not skin in the game.Marketing for buyers is pretty easy, you just need a great deal.Finding private money whether it's IRA lenders from self-directed IRAs or joint venture partners like doctors for 50-50 splits, it takes shoe leather and time, if you don't have the time, I would find a partner to go solicit private money and JV money.Lastly a good coach can believe in you more than you believe in yourself. 

What options would you recommend if you were in our shoes?  

Is Bata Shoe still there?

They step into your shoes with the seller, and the actual sale occurs from the seller directly to the buyer.

So hopefully I may be able to start my buyer's list with him.I'll also be attending the July 9th meeting of the WCRT subgroup meeting in Merrillville, IN and hope to network with fellow investors, realtors, attornies and hopefully some folks in my shoes*********** , Thanks for the info!

One more piece of advice: I was exactly in your shoes when I started, and by 29, I was sitting pretty, but just be warned people may not take you seriously, so be extra organized, extra sharp.

I think a great way to begin using BP is to read the Bigger Pockets Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Real Estate Investing as Josh and Brandon did a great job with it.And now that you're here we'd love to see you be an active member of the BP community so be sure to set up Keywords Alerts for your local area such as "Snow Shoe" or "State College" if you're looking to find potential opportunities for investing, education in a subject, or other members in your area.

We are in similar shoes as we both share a vision of being self-employed while still having the ability to achieve wealth via REI.

Lots of shoes on the power lines though, for what it is worth.

I know that if this was in NC and I was in your shoes, I would only enter the property after the sheriff, and after doing all the required due process to gain legal possession, etc.