Online education and resources can also provide foundational knowledge.

Check out other online guides available here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/guides3.

This will give you an objective way to look at the situation & determine which is a better financial move.

Check out other online guides available here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/guides3.

Shaking hands with someone seems to always be superior to interactions online.

Check out other online guides available here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/guides3.

Check out other online guides available here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/guides3.

We used a combination of Wayfair, thrift stores and online second-hand sale sites.

Does anyone know if there is a way to do more advanced searches using the MD Dept of Assessments database or perhaps through another online service? 

If the software is not simplifying your life or making you more accurate, you shouldn't use it.Software does have extremely helpful features like online payments, marketing syndication (click a button, and your property is advertised on multiple sites), electronic document review/signing, maintenance tracking, and owner reports.