Having a security system is vital to saving costs, though it may sound like you're spending hundreds of dollars up front. 

Honestly speaking I enjoy the hunt of finding deals more than the actual deals themselves, so I don't mind spending tons of time analyzing deals and driving neighborhoods every week.

@Fernanda Netto, you're going to spend $161k on a property with an ARV of $130?

I estimated I would spend about $20,000.00 into it and the plan was to list it around $100,000.00 with 6 months flip time (I work full time and planned to work on it nights and weekends but since it was all cash I wasn’t worried about the timeline).

I spend extra time when I'm spending money to make sure I get the best value from that purchase.Example, new TV 3k, other places 2500, few other online retailers 1800.

Don't spend time looking at unrenovated housing approaching 100 years in age.

There is always a last-minute scramble, but you will make it happen if you really want it.

@Daryl AskewNo I haven’t I read a article last night on BiggerPockets and spending too much much on gurus and buying every REI course I see that’s why I ask does anybody any great in Atlanta without waste time on unnecessary course and gurus that haven’t help newbies like myself.

If I buy a house in January, spend 6 months rehabbing it, and then rent it out in July, do the holding costs during the first 6 months (prorated property tax, mortgage interest, insurance, utilities, etc) get deducted from rental income, or do they get added to the basis of the property?

There is always a last-minute scramble, but you will make it happen if you really want it.