It didn't turn out how you wanted but I bet you've learned a lot. 

You're best bet is hard money.

And I am not sure if betting on appreciation is the right thing to do since I have no idea what the future might be. 

You’re much safer buying through a licensed real estate professional with access to your state’s real estate contracts.SummaryAsking not rushing into deals and asking seven simple questions, you can avoid losing hundreds of thousands of dollars and wasting several months on a bad deal from an inexperienced or bogus wholesaler.Author’s BioJeff Morelock began his real estate career by buying and rehabbing houses.

I'll bet he is sitting in jail, check online.

You would be completely screwed because you have zero working capital.If you could find a partner that is willing to be the "money guy" and let you do all of the leg work, that would probably be the safest bet for you.

Breckenridge is a better bet than a place like Frisco or Silverthorne.

Your best bet is to place this in the marketplace.

Only you get to stack the deck in your favor, you get to look at the dealers cards, and you get to decide if you want to play before you have to make your first bet.

That makes me think that is a safe bet.