It reasonably allows us to forecast the combination of traditional W2 earnings + a growing real estate portfolio and model out corresponding tax considerations. 

Recommend you connect & communicate with @Russell Brazil who knows a bit about the Baltimore market.In the meantime, read below about how nightmares often occur:Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a Class A property in Class D area, what quality of tenant will you get?

@Francis NunezRecommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.So, when investing in areas they don’t really know, investors should research the different property Class submarkets.

@Sanil Subhash Chandra BoseRecommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a Class A property in Class D area, what quality of tenant will you get?

Otherwise, as @Nathan Gesner points out, it can be MORE expensive than hiring the right professional.ALSO:Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a Class A property in Class D area, what quality of tenant will you get?

@James KhailRecommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.So, when investing in areas they don’t really know, investors should research the different property Class submarkets.

@Doug LearnardRecommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a Class A property in Class D area, what quality of tenant will you get?

@Irene Morgovsky what you are experiencing is that rents do NOT increase linearly with property values.Or look at it another way, the pool of renters that can afford higher & higher rents, shrinks faster than a corresponding pool of buyers.You could look into making it a short-term rental to try to improve rental income, but:1) Is it allowed in that area2) STR rates are coming downYou may have to accept "negative income" or sell.

@William SilvaRecommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a Class A property in Class D area, what quality of tenant will you get?

A bank has its own loan products and may have some other products they broker out or sell on a correspondent line.