With practice (and the more you can systematize it) it will become easier, and I can say without a doubt, that mastering the art of direct mail to buy houses was the single most important skill that transformed me from being an average investor hoping to bring in six figures a year, to one that makes seven figures a year.

In 2019 I made the decision to join a private equity portfolio company and have been on the private side the last 18 months.I am very entrepreneurial in nature and enjoy technical evaluations, building out asset cash flow models, making presentations to management, and working with a fast paced / skilled team.

Wholesaling is about marketing, sales, and negotiation...skills that will make you money in any industry if you keep refining them. 

And hey, it's a good skill set to have.

Both of us are satisfied with our arrangement since I can bring those skills to the table that they don't have.

I worked for a short time in an county assessors office as an appraiser, obtained a B.S. in Real Estate at the age of 23, my father currently is a do-it-all handy man who does a lot of work on single family rentals (so I’ve learned some about repairs and have access to his skills and wealth of knowledge).    

He dissects this question, and many other related questions, skillfully. 

Choose an area that has good schools, shopping, is safe, etc.Don't buy something with a renovation that is out of your scope (skills, money).

The major difference is their mindset and skill level.

A house will be too far gone if it is in excess of the budget constraints or the skill level of the executor.