I think a lot of wholesalers just don't know what they are doing or are just straight up crooks looking to rip people off.

Crooked contractors, vandalism, and poorly screened tenants are much harder to deal with from afar.  

We consider it a steal.  

Sounds like a steal depending on what the seller terms are and how soon you can being making a profit .You will gross 19,200 a year minus the debt service.

I don't think that basically stealing the appliances is a moral thing to do.

Unfortunately, the nicer the property, the more likely scammers are to steal it.

So, short sales aren't going to allow you to get a steal on a property, but it may allow you to pick up some good deals if you're willing to do the work and wait it out.

I think some solid advice was given in this thread but I would like to comment on one of them that was repeated several times:That was - Dont spend it on seminars.While I agree that most gurus are crooks and only provide general and often outdated education, there are some that are very beneficial to your success.

The 3rd ward area is transitional but you can find some steals in there also.

How does a newer investor protect themselves from the contractor who steals the deposit and skips town?