Commit to walking through open-house showing on your weekends, and then following up to see what they were sold for.

If their response is anything but an automatic flat "no" you CAN make that deal eventually even without an agent (get a good title company that will walk you through the direct sale process). 

I ended up walking away from this deal due to incompetency and lack of knowledge of dealing with a property set up this way with all their utilities.

In any case, someone called my back yesterday and walked me through the process but they still said it would take two or three weeks.  

Walked away even during crazy market.

The last thing they need is having a newbie wholesaler tie up their property, then walk away when they can’t flip it, leaving them no time to sell it to a real buyer. 

@Joshua ZdunichTake it slowly and be sure you are well planned before walking away from your W2.

It is still a great time to buy, just make sure to link up with an agent able to walk you through the process and give sound advice to get an offer accepted.    

You unload this property and avoid the inevitable added losses, or you can keep the property, thinking you have $1500 in it already and can't afford to walk away from it...and just add to it. 

Put in a new support wall outside, new roof, fixed walk around porch, new HVAC system, 2 new bathrooms done in the historic style in one and not in the other, new water line,  new floors, fixed wall that was fallen 6 inches from second story to foundation, replaced termite damaged foundation beams, paint and cosmetic stuff, all new plumbing, lots more.