From one beginner to another...I'm currently in the same area (NoVa) have you checked out any REIAs around here?

Foreclosure in Canada is almost evenly divided between provinces which operate under Judicial Sale (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Québec and Saskatchewan) and Power of Sale (New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Ontario and Prince Edward Island).Under Power of Sale, the lender is permitted to sell the property without involvement of the court and often without actually taking ownership of the property.   

The question may be better served with a time (say 5 years) qualifier because ultimately we are all screwed when the sun super novas in 5 billion years!

I just looked at our MD/VA properties (acquired between 1988 and 2018, literally a generation/30 years).Our MoCo and NoVa units are now getting at best 0.4%-0.6% rent to value if one were to purchase now.

I love the TV show Nova.

come Nov, a bunch of people stop paying their rent for 5 months of the year??

We are looking to sell our place this year in March-April and look for a place out east in the late spring or early summer (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, maybe PEI). 

(You'll still cashflow, and get more appreciation)Best - Find an assumable loan/seller financed deal in the NOVA area. 

And, of course, the Millionaire Real Estate Investor that @Andrew Michael  mentioned is solid.You are in a good area for real estate investing (not NoVA, but surrounding areas closer to you).

@Stacy Weng I do all my investing in the Shenandoah Valley because its about half the price of the NOVA market.