@Jeremy Cohen,Double close ( A -> B -> C ) is illegal in most areas these days, thanks to it being so badly abused by short-sale flippers (I won't name names).You will probably need to to do two closings back-to-back: A -> B, B-> C.

Do whatever you have to to find the most experienced mentor you can.

If not, then there will likely be some price/term change you would need to agree to, to keep the contract alive.  

So I'm trying to learn how to to this asap.

Tell me why this is a dumb idea, but let's not get lost in what-if's.Lastly, who are the professionals that I can talk to, to make sure that the work I'm doing will result in a property that is bank finance-able?

I could partner with someone, and have a few offers for partners for any deals I come across, the issue is I need a partner who has ALL the funds, and none to my knowledge meet that particular criteria.I'm not greedy, so I could wholesale it, but I would need to to make an offer, which means I still need a pre-approval -- also many of the deals are REO's so I'm not sure if wholesaling is even an option.....Any suggestions???

I'm currently looking for pocket listings and off market deals to to fix and flip. 

The only other you might try to to use door hangers and advertising to round up these possibilities.  

Retire with no worries, no debt, and the ability to travel anywhere we have to to be around family.

Before you even consider a trip to court (and I'm not sure why you'd consider this option at this point anyway) you need to be aware of your options as a tenant in your state in terms of what you can do if a landlord does not address repair issues to make a rental unit "habitable".You also need to be aware of just what limits a landlord must go to to achieve this.Colorado does allow a tenant the right to withhold rent IN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES if a rental unit is "uninhabitable".