They are motivated to sell, but not motivated enough to sell for a discount that would make a wholesale possible.

Not sure what the pushback to a good deal was all about, but for anyone reading after this is the golden nugget I got from this:Get a contract at deep discount, based on solid area comps and calculate strike price.

Hello Benjamin,The way to accomplish your particular goal is the acquire foreclosed properties at a steep enough discount including rehab so that when you refinance the ARV is high enough to cash out all your original funds at 70LTV.

When you buy a note you are not buying the property, you have a collateral interest in the property and if you force sale the owner is entitled to equities above what is owing, so the profit is from the discount.

In your ad, give two prices:Cash Price (you get this discounted price by paying all cash): $29,500Owner Financed Price (or lease to own, rent to own, lease/option - something that allows payments to be made based on your level of experience collecting payments...more later): $650/month plus lot rent.Now, I don't know your market and that might price you right out of the going rate for homes.

If you have very little cash to start bird dogging is a great way to learn hat you are looking for in discounted properties and make some cash.  

The Deduction or discount is how you make your money!

He'll market for short sale leads as an agent and then instead of waiting for an offer he does pretty well actually at getting an approval for a short sale at a decent discount. then I'll come in and (as long as the numbers will work, which they usually do as he's gotten better and better at it) make an offer at either that price or a tad lower while it's marketed at a higher price, once an offer has been received, they are informed that an investor (myself) is 'working' it and that the new buyer and myself will be doing a double close transaction.

A letter saying that if this deal can not be reached, then: You'll purchase the first note at a discount equal to the short sale amount.

For the last several months I've been noticing that plenty of businesses are offering discounts if you JUST ASK.For instance:I just got off the phone with my Yellow Page account complaining that the rates had gone up 10% over last year and asked if they could do anything.