So not sure the answer but its a tough one no doubt.  

I think if you mean wholesaling in the sense of putting it under contract and flipping the contract, this can be tough for a wholesaler to pull off unless they have a lot of capital available and can show liquid assets.

I understand the overall red tape challenges (starting to dig at the local and state levels to better understand the nuisance of the codes), my question really is modeling the cost model and projecting returns so I can develop investment material to find funding.  

The cheapest duplex Ive seen is $500k and theyre all near Ogden (north) I have seen any near St George.I dont mean to discourage, mainly sharing my tough times down here too.

To your question ... that's tough.

Hello - I am an aspiring real estate investor but I'm afraid I'm fallen into the trap of just viewing content / videos over the last year without taking any material action. 

You will be able to see if he is actually mentor material for you.

You can deduct the cost of materials.

I am doing rehab for a duplex currentlyFoundation repair: Slab foundation in between 5k to 8kRoof: 12 - 18kflooring: 2 - 4 per sq ft including materials ( of course will be higher for higher-end material)_kitchen cabinets and countertops installing labor: 300 to 500$Redoing entire bathroom: labor: 800 to 1500 Feel free to PM me for any more details.

If it's just getting the license, you need to keep reviewing the material from your course - practice tests, flash cards, videos, whatever you need to learn as effectively as you can.