Adding details and specifics can help get to the answer or direction you're looking for.

As far as I can tell, I'm the only REI in this specific niche within the county.

What specific concerns or opportunities are you seeing in your market?

Are you working on any projects or targeting anything specific?

My immediate goal is to acquire our first property and spend the next two years mastering the basics of real estate investment. ( Refining the Go and No property search criteria/ Learning the value of taxes and avoiding them as much as possible/ 1031 exchanges) Depending on my wife’s career orders, we may remain in Baltimore for 1-2 years, but I’m also exploring opportunities in West Texas, Sierra Vista, AZ, and Houston, TX.

I have all kinds of specific searches set up for my investor clients to help find the best deals. 

I would probably go with a HELOC as you won't have to pay for what you're not using unless you've got a specific property you're going to be buying with that money so you know you won't just take out the loan and sit on it paying interest all the while. 

Specifics on how to start are all appreciated!

Also, be careful with your lease terms: we specify all tenants, including minors, and state "No Others" specifically.

On a positive note we did build a new house to the specifications of a specific tenant.