still being a strong seller's market is what is really driving the competition off of the charts. If you don't want the house as a buyer (of any kind), then someone else will. Those from out of state still look at our prices as cheap even though we think they are getting out of hand. Either way, it's a GREAT time to be a wholesaler because people will over pay and the wholesaler is making great money on those homes in not so great areas or condition. "If" a good deal does comes along, the competition drives the price into the not so great price zone. Either way, you over pay. The only way is to find the deal yourself without competition which is what everyone has already said.
Stay away from those who sells to the highest bidder. That's a disaster waiting to happen.
The only decent deals are for the buy and hold people assuming they don't have to put a lot of rehab into them.
I am also licensed so I always use the "Its easy to buy, hard to sell" thinking. Easy to sell anything now, but when it's a buyer's market later when you want to sell, then good luck if you didn't buy it in the right location etc. now.
