Avery hooked me up with some contacts for cleaners and such and @Lucas Carl walked me through the day to day operations of running my rental.  

However, the rapid rise of the technology sector in the Reston area has sparked them to double down on their bets for continued strength of the office market in Reston Town Center (the D.C. metro area has the 3rd highest density of tech talent in the United States and 9th in the world, especially markets in the Dulles Toll Road Corridor like Reston, where 70% of the worlds internet traffic flows through and is home to companies like Google, Oracle, and Microsoft).

Ohio is a very hot market right now with a lot of upcoming growth and when buying real estate with cash, I like to focus on heavy cash flow markets. 

Here in Reno, NV we analyze over 1800 deals and find the best cash flow potential and value add opportunities. 

When you start looking you will likely need that qualification letter to get you into the showing, some agents don't want just anyone walking through their occupied listings. 

Does anyone know if there is a way to do more advanced searches using the MD Dept of Assessments database or perhaps through another online service? 

Typically 6% for bare bones permit set and you will have to find the contractor plus project manage it through construction.

This duplex is in a very desirable neighborhood so it will make conservatively 600-$1000 each month in positive cash flow.

These companies typically handle the construction and sometimes even the property management, which can be a great way to enter new markets without needing to be hands-on.In terms of returns, BTR properties generally offer stable cash flow, especially in areas with strong rental demand.

If you are liquid enough and you prioritize cash flow, option 2 may make sense.