Knowing what type of company they are, I really want to have nothing to do with them.Copy of the contract here:https://drive.google.com/drive...Thanks in advance!

For the contract stuff you should talk to a lawyer about that and someone already utilizing the strategies you are discussing, know the risks of the strategy you want to implement before moving forward and maybe try to shadow someone already doing them.Again my initial recommendation is that you put your work ethic and drive toward something with a more predictable payout, stop wasting hours working for Walmart, bring your earnings up and continue learning about this industry and then make a move for something bigger once you have a nest egg built up and have taken the time to develop enough skills to make it in whatever you decide to pursue.

With your first property being a owner occupied, you will be limited to areas you want to actually live and work in, so it seems that will likely be the driving factor of what city your first investment property is in. 

Yes, it is true that when driving for dollars your goal is to find properties with deferred maintenance, create a list in a CRM (customer relationship manager) tool, and contact these sellers with the intention of signing a purchase agreement and assigning that contract to a buyer.

New listings are low and not sticking around, driving prices further into nose bleed territory.

You'll want to stay within a 30 minute drive though, over 30 minute and it'll cut down on the amount of mil fams that want your place. 

Focus on a target market, neighborhood not city, and start driving around, writing down addresses, calling owners, mailing owners.

It's an exciting one for me, for sure :) ...I'm about to close on a property that I found off market while just driving through a neighborhood back from the grocery store.

Find a job...apply for section 8....move in with a friend or relative and split the housing and food cost...Go drive a wrecker truck not all are so choosy regarding your past.

No idea how long they have been on the market I drive periodically hoping to catch a neighbor outside to ask.