@Matthew Martin,A site that I often look at any time I'm due to move to a new duty station (I'm also active duty military) is www.militarybyowner.com. 

You don't have to put any money down and you will have a lot left for another loan at your next duty station.

We can use the same example, maybe a convenience store/gas station with the land included in the purchase?

@Collette Douglas In a former life, I worked as a structural analyst on the Space Station design.  

Gas stations, elevators, convenience stores, Starbucks, fast-food places, you name it, if there are people around I'm 10 second pitchn'n them!

It was an old garage/gas station and a pool hall next door.

I was stationed in NAS Jacksonville back in the day for training when I was in the Marines.Just curious, why was the house vacant for 18 months?

I am currently stationed on the USS Bonhomme Richard out of Sasebo Japan.

If you're a new investor with limited funds, you're best bet is to find the lower price point counties in the DC area and focus there- Prince George's County, Waldorf, Anne Arundel, Montgomery (certain areas), Baltimore, etc (really most of Southern MD is pretty decent)Trying to go into the District itself as a new investor can certainly be done, but a) prices are going to be higher than surrounding areas so for the same amount of money to spend you're going to do less houses, and b) it's harder to comp properties- DC property values can often vary block by block, proximity to metro station matters, finishes matter, whether or not they've 'dug out' the basement to increase ceiling height matters, the exterior style of property- federal, victorian, etc matters.  

When we got orders to our next duty station we rented it out.