So that's about as much real estate , as I have under my belt . 

You are off to a great start with savings and those two books under your belt.

Are you new to investing or do you have a few years under your belt?

Most legit lenders are going to want to see that you have a couple (really more) under your belt.

If you try to get in with some upside down project with thin margins you won't be able to do it.The midwest from Pittsburgh out through Ohio and into Indiana, you have markets in that belt that offer beginners with little capital and no experience a chance to play.That's fine and dandy but setting up a network full of Agents, Wholesalers, and GCs that aren't gonna over sell you, talk you into a bad project, or plain rip you off is the hard part.

Get a couple properties under your belt, make sure the cash flow is there.

The guy I’m working with I’m nearly positive has some investments under his belt as well as one of the top agents in the state and I figured he was the main source for that but just double checking. 

@Joseph Braunthis is not unique to Baltimore, i think this is a feature of many cities, including most rust belt cities. 

Yes, it is good to get a deal or two under your belt.

I am sure there are lots of different reasons for it. well they were replaced by those crossing the border 750k out of 42 mil probably not that big of an impact.. traffic is still really heavy I was just there last weekend in the SF bay area no signs of the state looking like some of the dead cities one finds in the rust belt or deep south.