You will ultimate have to buy all your cash flow at a very high loss due to the opportunity value of that equity.

Go grab your signs and throw them away.Of, if you're willing to engage in criminal activities to make a buck, look for more profitable opportunities than bandit signs and wholesaling. 

I’m coming back to Ohio in December for a month ir two to network and look at local opportunities.

This is an opportunity for you to get a feel for (1) do they meet the requirements.

Sadly, living in Manhattan and California all my early working years and through my 20's (ridiculous rents and millennial lifestyle...) has left me with little opportunity to save, let alone save anything remotely close enough to a downpayment in areas where studios and 1 bdrms start at well over half a million dollars...This being said, I'm very interested in learning as much as I can about real estate (especially on the smaller scale - such as SFH and perhaps duplexes...).

Seems like Midwest is a better opportunity like @Jordan Moorhead mentions.

I recommend trying to connect with local wholesalers and seeing if they have any off market opportunities.

My agent is checking on options.Since this is my first "strategic" real estate by, I keep getting stuck in analysis paralysis then I miss opportunities.

If you come across any good opportunities you can not manage have me in mind.

There is approximately $100,000 riding on this arbitrage opportunity so I’m open to suggestions.