I started by going through the posts here using the search function and then trying to connect with the realtors and investors and whole salers and lenders specific to the city I am interested in!!

That is not an accurate picture you are painting here.All this is just drama overspill from a different post on a different forum:https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/93/topics/1216921-advic...A college student asked for advice in the wholesaling forum, about trying to wholesale in NYC.His "Constructive Criticism" was:This is not "constructive criticism", this is projecting your own limitations onto others.

But regardless of how promising a market may be, it's important that you have a way to source good deals, whether that be through a wholesaler, agent, etc.  

By that I mean listed properties, for sale by owner, open houses, wholesalers deals, and any other investors deals that they will show you.

I've currently been using Deal machine basically doing as you're stating here for wholesale, so how would grumpy hare help?

@Terrance Coleman - If you are looking to start with a fix and flip I would recommend getting on a few solid wholesaler lists. 

Best bet is talk to wholesalers and have a real good agent that can dig properties out, and be prepared to buy on spot in good locations and anything else be a tough cookie.

Many wholesalers miss this because they’ve been taught by gurus to mislead sellers, claiming to be cash buyers themselves.

As a wholesaler, I would get a HUD-1 if the buyer kept assignment in the transaction.

The reality is you will at some point buy from a wholesaler if you try and scale this business.