I have a burning passion for a real estate but this route would ultimately require me to change to careers (currently in IT) just wanted to have some more insight from you guys.

Or they may just do it incorrectly, and your house burns down.

So the net effect to me was that I obtained a $13,000 investment for  $9,360, Instantly.

My experience is not enough charge them.I can instantly tell the difference between two vendors between one will do everything for free and one values their time.The one that does everything for free will be lower priced, lower quality, hard to communicate with, frustrating to work with, price oriented instead of quality oriented, typically late all the time, cutting corners, easy to have misunderstandings with, be unsophisticated in his business practices, typically will always lead to deep, ugly problems of some sort due to personality issues, will be reactive during the project, voice mail that is full or phone dead, will require a tremendous amount of babysitting and aggravation from start to finish.The one that values their time will be higher priced, easy to communicate with, quality oriented, on time, will require no baby sitting, will be proactive during the project, typically will be a very easy and painless working relationship.There is more money to be made in the long run when you focus your time on what's important to move your business ahead, freeing up your time and aggrivation allows you to increase your income faster than babysitting everything and pulling your hair out and everything taking 3 times as long.

I have a burning desire to get into real estate.

I am a buy and hold investor who likes instant equity and long term potential.

I agree with all the above and would add from my personal experience that as a Wholesale buyer I would not "steal the deal" because if I did I would burn that bridge with that wholesaler and then would only get one deal out of them instead of a partnership and pipeline that I like to build over time.

Also, my personality suggests instant gratification... so I avoid long projects, foreclosures, and short sales.

In the beginning I tried to do most of the renovations myself, coming home sun burned and covered in dirt each day.  

@Sunny Burns thanks for the info I appreciate ...