If you're - in his eyes - not worth a phone call to even attempt a win-win scenario that tells you all you need to know.

Their demands and threats do not bother me and I generally toy with them for a few months till they realise they are not going to win.

It's a win-win strategy to help people get into home that they otherwise couldn't qualify for without your creative solution for them. 

Give them a stake in the properties to compensate, win win for all.

Because I have a vested interest (plus two of my nephews live in a town home as well), this is a win-win for us.  

I know in Oklahoma you have some kind of land contract or contract for deed that allows you to buy the property with low down and get on some kind of titleNow your exit strategy can be to rent it out or to resell it for cashAnother strategy is to buy it subject to or subject to existing financing, or you leave the financing in place and get the DeedDodd Frank and Safe Act do not apply because it is an investor to investor transactionYou can also look at lease-option assignments where you enter into a lease option and then sell your contract for a fee which is brokering the contractOklahoma City I really enjoy; a great marketplace because of the rent that you can get compared to the fair market value of the houseIf you want to win at real estate I would get a real estate license and find a broker that will allow you to do creative transactions, which include Wholesaling, and Creative financing as a principal buyerI have written extensively about "how to talk to Sellers" at BiggerPockets for the last eight years or soGoogle "Brian Gibbons negotiating with sellers"Happy new year and good luck!

would my agent be entitled to a commission if I buy privately off of Craigslist)--It sounds like #4 would be the best "win win" for everyone, but I have never heard of a wholesaler willing to pay an agent (without building in the cost ie: charging me a lot more).... have any of you?

This is likely one of the main reasons why really big players haven't invested in the industry yet. 

If you keep the house 6 months and it becomes self supporting and hits your target as far as cash flow ( you set that goal not just accept what it decides to pay you) than its a win for as long as it's self supporting and cash flowing. 

Whichever number is higher (assuming risks are the same...the whole bird in the hand, 2 in the bush), that would be the logical solution.You cant win on every fix/flip, that's the game.