To that end, can anyone please send me contact info or put me in contact with a reputable commercial broker(s) and/or property manager(s) in Washington, D.C.?

Most of the poor reputation LOs have is probably because a lot of landlords do them on their crappy properties that they can't attract good tenants for, imagining that somehow an option is a magic bullet to make the tenant a better one.

I think Reno probably has more growth than Vegas because they are becoming a manufacturing and logistics hub. 

@Clay SellersTo keep costs down, you may want to open the self-directed IRA with a custodian that charges reasonable fees but is still reputable.

I'm not flipper in that market and it also depends greatly on the property so I can't say for sure where you should be aiming, but if you're simply looking for inventory at a great price, find a reputable wholesaler in that area and see if they have any deals. 

 I would stick to bigger reputable companies and friends and family starting out.

My goal is to find lasting relationships while building a positive reputation in the area as I launch my RE investing career.If you are a knowledgeable investor in the area and need someone to research, help with maintenance projects, prospect etc.

Sure Chicago has a reputation and each neighborhood has a reputation but that is still not detailed enough to make a decision about whether a property is desirable or not..

Memphis Invest has an excellent reputation. 

Join REI groups (use meetup.com), maybe even try working with some reputable wholesalers to see how they do things.