How would you start out given my current situation?

[Andrew L.]

Location: Washington, DC (Nearby Tyson's Corner due to work location)

Status: Single. No debt. Sitting on a pile of savings. 

Goals: 1) Move out of the, 2) generate steady rental income even if I move out of the place a few years later.

With the savings that I have, strategy-wise, I can think of purchasing a 2bd, 2ba condos or a townhouse (Albeit further from my preferred location) and rent out one of the rooms. Alternatively, I could buy two small condos (1bd, 1ba) and rent out one units. 

The thing that gets me is the condo HOA fee. After HOA and taxes, there is very little in return, certainly not enough to cover my personal expenses let along replacing job income (Ultimate goal). I wonder how the experts on this board get around this problem? Or a better approach that I am not aware of?