@Jason Evans A contact I made when I first moved to this area who is VP of a local bank and also an investor with around 40 rental properties advised me that anything within a 10-mile radius of the Bulls stadium and Tobacco District is a safe bet regardless of what it looks like now.

I live right outside the District (Bethesda area), and it's always a welcome sight to see new DC-local BP folks.

Perhaps there is an interesting idea to explore later on my idea of what it means to "buy a foreclosure [property]", essentially that does not mean the same as discount, which I find common in the public.To some degree, it's a little bit of an art.

The only real interesting "new" point for me was that you can essentially charge "pet rent".  

At some point along the way, if you find you do have a ton of extra cash, use it to buy another rental property that will make you money (say 500 a month) and then this property will essentially be paid off because you won't be making the payments out of your pocket - they'll come from the rental profits of the next house.....

It's not clear what is going to happen at the Federal level, but the Feds have already won at the Federal District Court Level with regards to FHA/HUD insured mortgages, and it's unclear what will happen with regards to mortgages back by Fannie and Freddie.

The school district is amazing and quality of life makes it a highly desirable rental market. 

Redfin essentially copy paste the MLS data.  

Allen & Garland, and Southwest Arlington.That keeps you out of anything remotely considered a war zone and in some solid school districts, while still allowing you to find reasonably priced properties.

The owner dug out the tank and removed as much soil as possible but the oil had leaked under the foundation and was essentially impossible to remove.