Question: I am entertaining the idea of living overseas for a year to travel as well as save some money because I won't be spending so much (Thailand is calling my name!). 

Save up some reserves, create a budget, and stick with it.

But  and should budget for having a lawyer complete?  

Look at your approved budget to see what other expenses are coming up that have not been paid.   

I've budgeted 30-40k for my first purchase and in LA that doesn't get me very far.

These strategies will be broken down to promote the brand and to market to specific target audiences to develop business for our key areas of focus for Real Estate Investing.Branding and Marketing Strategies Online Branding-Website1.Squeeze pages- lead capture sites-Social Media1.Facebook2.LinkedIn3.Google+-SEODirect Marketing-Clipper magazine ad-Small monthly circular mag/paper-We Buy Houses Signage on our building-Car magnetWOM Marketing-Pittsburgh REIA and ACREStrategies -Wholesaling-Rehab/Flip-Supportive Housing-Note Brokering/InvestingTarget Markets -Greater Pittsburgh area in 35mi. radius-Where are our buyers buying, wholesale or otherwiseCosts -What is budget?

Every time there is a budget battle, they scream the loudest, because they are entirely committed to a single funding stream.

I guess what I still might the hung up on is if you are honest with the seller that you are wholesaling and tell them you have buyers that would be interested in buying, and the realtor would still get their commission, why wouldn't the seller at least entertain the idea.  

Of course if you have only a $10k total rehab, that will typically take a bit longer than just a week, but when you get into the $100k and up rehabs, you want to be at or around $10k weekly.Time is your enemy on renovation flips as every week that goes by increases your holding costs (interest, taxes, insurance, maintenance, utilities, etc.) so when you can get to $10k completed weekly, you are saving money in holding costs.Another couple photos:Another additional item completed but not originally budgeted for was the new front gate, new cement at garage area, new gray fence on driveway and new black top coat on asphalt from street all the way down the driveway.

You should be budgeting for maintenance and capital expenditures.