@Brandon HallDo you think it's worth it to leave a great local RE market(Atlanta) for a location that's much rougher(San Francisco) just for better non-RE career opportunities, and standard of living?

If you have other lines with them, you risk them being frozen or the ability to use them, being taken away.Joel summed it up pretty well assuming you are not in a single action or non deficiency state.You have to document a financial hardship to be considered for a short sale for 99.99% of all potential short sale scenarios out there.

i look for SFR, Condos, Multis in the 250k range but i will go higher or lower as long as the profit is there.and i need to get the property at a good discount. non REOis that too broad to tell an agent or should i set my criteria more specific

Hello Non,I would not start with entity right away.

Really have to find out before EM goes non-refundable and contingencies are waived. 

Ask your client if they're willing to sign a non-contingent contract without showing proof of funds?

Financing options -- Are there any non recourse options?

The process varies depending on how you obtain and whether the note is performing or non performing.

At the time of signing a non refundable  brokerage fee is given to us and then it is a deal between the seller and TB.

Or, worse, have you  as a wholesaler ever been accused of the non-crime of "structuring" payments only to have your assets (bank account) drained under the presumption that the large checks must be the fruits of criminal enterprise--simply for cashing wholesaling checks from a cluster of small deals?