I have played around with the house flipping calculator using the recent sales in my specific neighborhood for ARV.  

Just out of curiosity, how could things play out if there were two offers with escalation clauses submitted?

Property 1 has a sign in front: you call, leave a message for the agent to call back (assuming they even call back) and then you play phone tag until you eventually schedule to see the property next Tuesday.My property is next door where the prospect drives y, sees my sign, pulls in the driveway, they can call 24/7 to get info on the property, get a text with all the info about the unit, how to apply and a link to schedule a viewing right then.

Cash or not may not play a role here.

Ken Min David Faulkner Nick Colamarino Those are solid thoughts; I just wonder which direction, as someone getting into the game and planning to play for life, I should steer into starting off.

As of now at least.I am a new investor so I offer no real advice but to share my own strategies I plan to take.With the amount, I have to invest I am going the route of Buy/Hold because I am playing the long haul game of having my investments replace my monthly wages. 

And on and on and on ... there are as many methods and specialties as there are RE investors ... figure out what you are good at and figure out a niche and strategy that plays to these strengths.

You can play around with the numbers for an interest only loan with this calculator:  https://financialmentor.com/calculator/interest-only-loan-calculator

Does your deal have a value add play to raise the rents in the future. 

Chris picked up a good rental for now  with a nice appreciation play in the future.