Hi @Chase Steven Barber  have you tried using the BP Wholesale Calculator under Tools?

I thank you for brining this tool to my attention.

When I started, computers were prevalent but not the free tools available now to research.

Any advice on how to find my first deal minus these tools?

They will give you tools like dotloop, you'll have the name (Century 21, Coldwell Banker, etc.), and you will have training in a classroom environment.

The popular military discounts at EVERY retailer are ALL only for personal use.

The funny part is that Denver-proper has become so popular and costs have gone up so much in the last 5 years that what you're describing has already taken place and the suburbs are seeing similar increases, at least in the more desirable areas.

The good news is that PB is the place where you can get most if not all the tools you need to succeed. 

My specific area is in a higher end part of the state and the prices are just outrageous, due to its location and popular summer rental demands.

I generally think markets have a sweet spot that provides the best return and it varies by property.With a little research, we can define the upgrades that will be the most popular and then discuss contractors etc that might be able to help you out.