But could it work for an investor looking to get a deal going in an otherwise tight market. 

Just a marketing term.   

I have an opportunity to purchase an off market deal on a property in MD. 

You will need to search for off-market deals because they are the ones that aren't that desperate to sell versus the MLS where they want the money right away mostly due to buying another house immediately.

Houston is a fantastic market with plenty of opportunities.

I have a lead for an off market single family home.

---------------------Let’s say I know of an industrial property with a few tenants that is negatively cash flowing due to a combination of mismanagement and below market rents.

The Front Range market has a very pronounced seasonality to it: March-June is "selling season" when the bulk of the listings hit the market and all of the retail buyers are out hunting.

But that fresh start was excatly what he needed to rethink his approach.Have you considered looking into markets outside of San Francisco?

The market can be unpredictable, and being adaptable is key in this business.