Anyone ever wholesale to flipper then purchase after the flip?

[Joe P.]

I found out the owner of the house next to mine is interested in selling and I would like to acquire the property as a buy and hold investment.  The house is off market and has been sitting vacant for 5 years.  It is in ok condition but was not winterized property and I know that the water line is broken in at least one spot, a hot water boiler line has freeze damage in at least one spot, and some squirrels have made it inside at some point during the vacancy so who knows what damage they did.  Bottom line is I am a beginner investor and do not feel comfortable taking on the risk of buying it and fixing it up myself but I would still like to find a way to make some money on the opportunity.  My thinking is that maybe I can wholesale the deal to a flipper with some sort of first option to buy from them when they sell the property.  

Has anyone ever done something like this?  Or does anyone have any other creative ideas of how I can capitalize on the opportunity?

[John Thedford]

Get a home inspection and bring in a contractor for bids