I work in Potomac, MD, and would like to buy a condo or apt that I can easily commute and live in, and then eventually rent out, and then buy another. 

We want to get a Vacation Rental Permit for stays under 30 days for ADU but current zoning doesn't allow it.

You won't find a deal where you live for free, but if you can live in a great neighborhood at a reduced cost of living that is a nearly risk free way to get started in real estate. 

- The current low rent is probably to offset maintenance issues at the property.- Try to raise the rent and the tenant will give you a list of all the maintenance issues they want you to fix. --- They will offer to fix them in exchange for lower rent, but ask yourself, if the tenant has been living there for 25 years, why isn't everything fixed already?

I work in group home settings for a living and at my previous facility there were two clients per bedroom which would give you potentially 8 in your house while at my current job there is one client per bedroom which would only be 4 clients in your home.

Currently, you have paper.

I renovated the home while 3 of my friends lived with me and paid my mortgage.

You said that you are applying for an FHA loan so it sounds as though you'd be living in one unit. 

Trying to get a split level (not a lot of sqft) on the market in the next three weeks and trying to decide on whether to open the wall between the dining and living room for a feel of openness or leave it as I have heard from two interior designers that the open concept is on the way out as we are more at home and liking our separate areas in the home.Pragmatically speaking the opening of the wall will be mostly a time drain with it being a load bearing wall and having to support the ceiling while rebuilding and all the drywalling necessary.

Currently have a small rental sfh on a lot that can clearly build at least a 4 unit on it.