.- By Feb/2014 after seeing a lot of ugly houses and apartments we found a 2/2 apartment, in a good area (very close to Miami Lakes in Miami NW), recently rehab, in a condo that had 2 similar units for sale for $130.000 this was nicer, cleaner, and $90.000- The deal was conventional only, so we found our way to get the down payment money (thank you family) and she closed in Mar/2014, $20.000 down, $8.000 closing fees and $70.000 mortgage.- She end up paying $570 a month plus $300 Association, water include.- The rent of one unit like hers at that moment was between $1.200-$1.400.What the heck am I doing?

That means, I would be gambling on the NOVA/WDC appreciating, but never a gartunee.  

Mar -I am in Central Florida around Disney World.  

@Anthony Brown,I don't have any personal experience in your area of the country, but here is a list that may be helpful. https://www.biggerpockets.com/hardmoneylenders/mar...Good luck!

Does anybody know a good way to find DC metro area (PG county, DC, NoVa) notices of default/ lis pendens?

My husband @Bruce Mar sources our properties, and has several list serves that send him data daily.

There also appears to be potential still in NoVa.  

@Elizabeth Colegrove - the ironic thing about Mar's post is he is in FL, where I am.  

Decreased Housing Supply Continues to Lessen Affordability: Zillow by Jacob Passy MAR 27, 2015 4:22pm ET Housing affordability has shrunk as the issuing of new housing permits has failed to keep pace with population growth in cities across the country, according to research from Zillow.The cities that have maintained affordability the best are those that have either experienced low rates of population growth or have kept in step with that growth by building more housing units, according to the report published March 27 by Zillowmore....http://www.nationalmortgagenews.com/news/originati...

I have done it before for a basketball goal, a boat, and a 1970 chevy nova :)    <--100% of those got a response that equated to a free basketball goal, a cheap boat, and nova!!!