New Investor in DC looking in Baltimore

[Andy O'Neal]

First: Thank you to every single one of you who have posted to BP. This site is incredible!! I'm D.C.-based for now and looking to buy my first investment property in Charm City. I spent yesterday - rainy as it was - walking Ridgley's Delight and Pigtown. (These neighborhood names are amazing!) I'm probably more interested in the former, but certain corners of the latter have me thinking as well. I'm interested in using this first property as training wheels for finding and executing a purchase and am looking for something closer to move in ready than raw material for a flip or BRRRR. As my girlfriend is quite the AirBnB host, we will likely try it as a short term rental first, but view long term rental as a possibility as well. I will make at least two trips back up to Baltimore next week and would love to pick anyone's brain who will let me pick up the tab for a cup of joe or lunch. I'll be in DC whenever I'm not in Baltimore. I'm most interested in finding an investor-oriented RE agent who is free during the days to arrange showings in the area and field my novice questions. Also interested in Baltimore-focused meetups. I want to buy one property, either a SF row house or two-unit, this fall and a total of three or four by this time next year. I'm interested in making investments that do right by the surrounding community. (I'm a former low/mid-level diplomat, big bank suit and chicken plant middle manager from Georgia who has picked up an aversion to W-2's. Until such time as I have real estate experience to share, I will contribute jokes and good cheer.)

[Andy O'Neal]

@Ian Barnes and @Ned Carey, I hear you both. Thank you for your takes. 

I walked RD first and was surprised by both how near it was to Camden, downtown, etc and how quiet & boring (a good thing) it felt.  Crossing MLK, and I didn't really even pass Cross St (except down near M&T east of Scott), Pigtown was palpably different. Things seem decently calmer north of Washington, but it's clear that RD is a decidedly different neighborhood and one more along the lines of what I'm looking for in an area that would be comfortably AirBnB'able. 

Though in fairness I will note there are a few nicely-performing AirBnB listings in Pigtown between MLK and Cross, towards the south/M&T. (RD has more hot listings, though not as many as Fed Hill and its surroundings.) Also in fairness, Nick's Rotisserie was delicious and I'm glad to see they are moving next door to open a sit-down. 

I'm planning on continuing my Baltimore walkabouts this week an hitting up the Friday lunch, next week I'll be at the MAREIA meeting for newcomers. Hope to see some Balt-focused folks there.