Pretty much all of the buy side deals we do are competitive with multiple offers, so sometimes it is just about knowing the agent on the other side and having that pre existing relationship so your offer can get selected. 

The cost of repairs will change if it's re-sale or rental also.Having asked you questions rather than answers...assuming you're going to wholesale the property, what I would do are:1.

Agency representation is a small part of what I do and almost all transactions I do are for my deals or other investors plus a few family/friends.

As an LP you need a high degree of confidence in two areas: integrity and competence.Integrity: Will the sponsor do what they say they're going to do?

It's a little tough to give you a cash on cash return because most of the deals we do are rehabs. 

The only balloons we do are with fix and flip loans.

When you get an AO/probate that is just about the best you can get. 

Im marketing to AO's in my neighborhood.

@Riley F.99.9% of all calls and emails we do are with tire kickers unfortunately.Eventually what happens over time is you develop certain questions where you are able to weed out the tire kickers within the first few minutes of a call.An exit strategy nowadays that I tend to use is "I'm sorry to cut this short but I am just about to jump into a meeting, feel free to give me call later today" Most of the time they never call which just proves they were never serious in the first place.

You have 659 AO out of state prospects in your county so here is what I would do.Buy those 659 and add to them 341 in state AO for a total of 1000Alternate you mail piece between the large text PC,  the small text PC, zipletters and YellowLetters.Here is the breakdownList - Cost 220.00+- ( good for 6 months)Yellow Letter 1 - Cost 760.00 +- send month 1Large Text PC 5 color 1 side - Cost 500.00+- send month 2Small Text PC ( My new one) color 2 sides - Cost 450.00 +- send month 3Zip Letter 7 - Cost 730.00+- send month 4Small Text PC Mine - Cost 450.00 +- send month 5Large Text PC 5 -Cost 500.00Total Spend 3610.00Over your budget however by month 2 you should have a deal in the pipeline.