Closing costs + rent ready costs + lease out costs - those you need to be compensated for and new investors are always surprised that they can add up to 5 or 10 or 15K.  

It is still a seller's market in many geographic locations, so you can ask potential buyers for an extended closing period and/or with options to extend the closing period. 

It was in our list to potentially expand our portfolio, but we already have 3 properties close to the shoreline....perhaps one day.

My question is: when wholesaling, after finding a great deal, do you need real proof of funds to the get the property under contact or is there a way to get it under contract, find a buyer and complete a double closing/assign the right to sell without actually having the cash for the property? 

I am actually closing on my first duplex in Milan in a couple of weeks.

Quote from @Patricia Steiner: There are several lenders who offer low/no closing cost options for first time homebuyers.

Quote from @Jeffrey Bourque: Hello All, I am new and this is my first attempt at purchasing a property with the intent to create monthly cash flow.The property: Triplex Listed at $140,000 - Total monthly rent income $2,150 - Tenants want to stay and are all willing to sign new leases for 3 years - 8 beds 5 baths and 3,500sqft livable space on a 4,800sqft lot - Heat and electric paid by tenants and water trash paid by owner $180 month - I have managed to talk the selling price down to $105,000 with a kick of $10,000 for closing and commissions so $115,000 all in - Building is in fairly good shape according to pictures and questions but have not done a inspection yet - some general maintenance repairs are needed according to the seller but nothing that seems to bother the tenants. - Taxes are on the higher side at $6,000 yearMy Numbers: $115,000 putting 20% of my money $23,000 and finance the rest with total expense of $1,834Monthly expense numbers: Future Maintenance 13% $273 - Vacancy 5% $105 - Property Insurance 5% $105 - Property Taxes 23% $500 - Property management 10% $215 - Office/Travel/Legal 4% $84 - Mortgage 26% $552 - Monthly Cash Flow - $316 per month or $3,792 per year so Cash on Cash = 17%I think this looks like it is a deal worth doing and I also believe I can bump the total rent up by $50 each tenant which I think make it even better.

Has anyone saved money and closed with one of these new upstarts?

If you want to buy in University city, I recommend staying as close to the universities possible in order to attract the best tenants and have the best room for appreciation.

There are a lot of affordable properties in Knoxville, but the growth isn't terribly vibrant and the deman isn't what you'd expect for a city of that size and that close to the Smokies - you're mostly looking at college rentals for the meat of the move season, and the SF market, while it exists, doesn't really compare to Chattanooga.