As mentioned, I would definitely seek out the advice of experts in those specific markets depending on where you decide to go. 

-when figuring rules of thumb regarding payroll cost per employee/position or things like repairs and maintenance cost, contract services, etc. per door in a specific market do yall suggest contacting a property manager to find out these numbers or actually using google or job listings etc. i thought about using chat GPT as well. any thoughts on this?

Websites like Zillow and Redfin can help you find these, and a local realtor can provide valuable insights on the market.Don’t hesitate to ask the community for advice on specific properties!

Not specific to OP but I constantly observe the pressure investors face to buy real estate.

Real estate isn’t just numbers on paper; it’s about people and their preferences, which can be hyper-local.Your insights reinforce the importance of disciplined investing and doing the homework to understand your specific market nuances.

What specific markets are you considering?

I can't advise you on what to do specifically.

If you want to network or ask specific questions about your local market, go to your local real estate forum and connect with investors from your area: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/86-local-real-estate-networking5.

Hello JC,I am not an expert in DC specific zoning but I have a lot of experience with the zoning code in Charlottesville VA. 

@Nicholas Dillon do you have a more specific buy box?