I am scouring MLS constantly (I have the automatic listings sent daily, as @Diana Kroll mentioned), Craigslist, HUD, etc. and then give away 3% commission when I do a lot of the legwork to find properties.I envision that agents get the lead on more properties before they hit the market...or maybe I just don't know enough people in the right places yet!

@Josh Prince I did ask him today to go ahead and send me the MLS listings.

@Diana K. home inspectors miss this kind of stuff every day.

If you're a new investor with limited funds, you're best bet is to find the lower price point counties in the DC area and focus there- Prince George's County, Waldorf, Anne Arundel, Montgomery (certain areas), Baltimore, etc (really most of Southern MD is pretty decent)Trying to go into the District itself as a new investor can certainly be done, but a) prices are going to be higher than surrounding areas so for the same amount of money to spend you're going to do less houses, and b) it's harder to comp properties- DC property values can often vary block by block, proximity to metro station matters, finishes matter, whether or not they've 'dug out' the basement to increase ceiling height matters, the exterior style of property- federal, victorian, etc matters.  

[b]The power of a $1.00 investment ($7,000 profit)By: Diana Fontanez – Lease Purchase Specialist and Consultant[/b]What can you do with a $1.00?

Wow thanks Will.By the way I like your movies :groovy: But, you just might not be the "Fresh Prince of Bel Air"Glad you found the forum.

I would also love to find out what the hot zip codes are in NOVA, DC, and Prince Georges Counties for investors these days.

I'm also around Prince Frederick, MD , Centreville, VA , and Towson, MD quite a bit.

Thanks Rick and Kendall -In this case, the lien is on a property in Prince Georges County.

If you can't find a deal there, then you are not going to find one going five hours away.I could afford to flip homes in baltimore or richmond but they're both in excess of 2hrs away...I would think you could find a lot of opportunity right across the bridge in Prince Georges county