Thanks What would you say your unique skill set is? 

Over the decades I have witnessed how his brain is wired differently and how easily he can "see" problems and with patience and skill fix them properly.

My aim is to not only profit financially but to gain in the process some intangible assets, such as project management skills, getting to know reliable professionals (i.e. realtors, contractors, designers, etc.) for the long-term, getting acquainted with the local market's promises and pitfalls, and basically adding some entrepreneurial muscle going into my next project.My strategy is to go small: find a second-hand apartment in a good location (I don't have enough funds for a GREAT location...); no more than 60-70 m2 (that's about 650-750 f2) to, among other things, lower renovation costs; 1-2 bedrooms, street facing and with a lift (if said apartment is above the second floor); with good bones, i.e., needs only partial renovation.

Your strategy of learning more DIY skills is especially smart in Northern Virginia, where contractors are not cheap!

Like any business it is good to assess one's skill sets. 

You can do it yourself; the process isn't terribly complicated and doesn't require much technical skill, but it is a lot of physical labor, and you'll probably want to get friends to help.

Depending how much you earn you can step up those savings by getting a side-hustle in any part of real estate....working for a top Real Estate office on weeknights and weekends, working for an RE Investor, working for a General Contractor and learning a few skills, etc.

Being open and willingly embracing change is a skill and not an easy one to develop. 

I'm fortunate to have a great, skilled outfit that handles those things for me. 

I'm going to take my time, learn the geography, the players and to your point hone my skills in one niche before pulling the trigger.