If you spend a lot on rehab, you are effectively increasing your down payment (over time) on that property. 

Of course it is, but  you need to have SO much meat left on the bone it would become such a waste of deal to give away.Most wholesalers are like this:[put a nagging voice in your head]: oh but I want leads, its so hard to get leads!

I know there are quality tenants in other demographics, but this is the dominant renting demographic in my area and I'd like to make my advertising efforts as effective and efficient as possible.  

But these lines pretty much cover it.Oh, and DESPERATION.How desperate are you to effect change in your life? 

It looks like you got double luck with the red tide effect and then Michael Hurricane.

And as you are probably finding out, its hard to manage effectively.

Appliances these days are garbage and not worth repairing as it’s not cost effective.

Winters are milder than western Pa. and no lake effect snow. 

With that said...what I would love to know or hear back from BP forum is what is a cost effective way to build a funnel of leads in the first place.

And while I hear a lot about "establishing teams you can trust" to do these things, it doesn't seem cost effective to have a team of support people for a single property.