The amount of this deposit is going to depend on the auction itself.

Idle money is the quickest path to low returns and does no good for anyone.

When I am looking for a new investment property and am strapped for cash, I typically look off-market and try and find something that can a seller is looking to sell that needs minimal repairs to be rent ready and the purchase price is 80% of the ARV this way I can use private money to buy in cash, do the repairs needed then refinance on a DSCR loan and pay off the private money loan. 

So I've been wanting too go out a network with investors and loaners/lenders but I don't know if their is any events that is real estate and commercial real estate investing based events in DC, does anyone know any events in the DMV that is good too join?

Your adjusted cost basis is the purchase price plus capitalized improvements minus depreciation. 

Quote from @Jason Malabute: A 1031 exchange is possible.

This is where everyone started.Residential investing is very forgiving by nature, you have to try hard to really screw it up.

Keep in mind it is usually not cheap or 100% effective.

getting MHs insured (the actual homes) is a challenge. 

Build to rent development is a great strategy.