Investing in high appreciation markets enables you to acquire the number of properties you need at a fraction of the cost of buying in a low appreciation location.Lifelong IncomeMany people face the nightmare of outliving their money.

Become an LO in the Private/Hard Money space, and pursue both.

That's why it's not selling.In most markets, your Maximum Allowable Offer (MAO) to a seller should be no more than:        MAO = (70% * ARV) - Repairs - Wholesale_Fee        MAO = (0.7 * 290K) - 40K - Wholesale_Fee        MAO = 203K - 40K - Wholesale_Fee        MAO = 163K - Wholesale_Fee               - OR -        MAO + Wholesale_Fee = 163KSo, you'd need to get this under contract with the seller at under $163K to make any money at all as a wholesaler.At $200K you're NEVER going to get any interest from experienced rehabbers.This is also why you probably got no resistance or pushback from the seller.

You further implied using a hard money lender - why?

It's time deploy $$$ into other opportunities including the one with your partner.The cash-flow would have to be crazy to hold it and that's if you don't need the money, but it sounds like you do for the next investment.

It would really suck to lose money and also have to pay taxes. 

Multiple, billion dollar companies are investing substantial amounts of money into our area, such as Intel, Google, and Amazon.

I have enough savings to pay the down payment (family supporting me in this venture).

When 1 unit was vacant, the other supported the drop in rental income.7.

If tenant is typical without a lot of money, and being honest, I would reach a reasonable settlement and not add misery to their life.