Is there any other method of helping the owner to reduce her debt/liability while I also make money on a property (create win-win scenario )?

I thought I was basically following the BRRRR method but just living in the unit until the equity built up.

Yup, wire fraud is on the rise.The system described in that article makes sense for the volume of deals it appears they are doing.A one-off method to be secure is actually to skip technology and go old school:Physically walk into the title company (make your earnest money deposit while you're at it, this can generally be a personal check because there is time to wait for it to clear), have them physically hand you your wire instructions for your particular transaction.Put the wire instructions somewhere safe.Always & only refer back to that.For that not to work, you'd have to imagine the bad guys not just spoofing an email, but spoofing an entire title company.

trim? 

If you are trying to do a "traditional" wholesale method where you lock up a property and then assign it to someone else, taking either an assignment fee or the difference between the two contract prices, your local Realtors association may not think you have your client's best interest in mind.

Examples:Conventional loan purchase requires 20 - 25% down payment.FHA Owner occupy (House hacking) requires 3.5 - 5% down payment.Creative financing methods could require anything from 0 - 20% down.  

I have family I can pay to do the art and faux, for the cabinets, concrete counter tops, backsplashes, trim, carpeting, windows, etc. 

I follow him very closely and practice his methods.

There are some really effective methods for learning and not surprisingly they aren't the normal methods.

Analysis methods:1% rule: Pass.