In our case improved operations provides the self-funding to make these investments possible, to the detriment of cash flow during the first 4-5 years, but we planned for that going in.  

Brian Kolb - like Christina R. said, HUB City REIA is a good place to possibly locate a mentor.

The easiest way in my opinion is to make the sale for the seller as easy as possible so he's inclined to sell it to you.

But be careful of the taxes eroding any possible cashflow. a 60k property in Coram, NY will run you 5600 in taxes, so this appears to be a challenge even in suffolk.

I was wondering if there was anyone in the Philadelphia area who has the time to just answer a few remaining questions that I do have, and possibly let me shadow them to see how you properly assign a contract and close.

I buy a lot of properties in Metro Detroit and I've seen deals like that but those are in neighborhoods that I feel like I should be suiting up in full combat gear before I get out of my car.Realistically in C+ neighborhoods you should be getting a Net ROI of around 12% possibly lower and possibly higher depending on mistakes that are made and what kind of luck you have. 

ITT students might be able to transfer their federal loan credits elsewhere or possibly have them canceled.

So if the pro's think doing 1 wholesale deal a month making $5,000 committing 15-20 hours a week into it is a crazy idea, then it may not work, however if it is completely within the realm of possibility to make 1 or more deals a month part time then it would be well worth trying it for a year and see where it goes. 

Thank you to all who make bigger pockets possible!

Possibly, depending on more details.