I bet if you listen to BP podcasts for 3 straight days you will learn more than the Than Merrill seminar and BP podcast is free.

my situation right now is i do all the legwork. my realtor and i find the properties. we walk the properties and come up with a rehab price. the deal is given to the investor, and if he likes it he buys. he then deposits the rehab $ in my account, sometimes in increments if its a larger flip. the property gets sold. i get 10% of profits. only other $ i make on the deal is if i have time and do any of the physical work, then i can pay myself.walking anywhere from 10 to 40 properties a weekarranging and making deals with suppliers and workers to keep costs downtaking responsibility for project getting done for the amount i quoted it to bei wouldn't consider doing it for a nickel less than what i am right now, and often times that isn't enough. 

I would never want to bet on speculation in this or any market.

Your best bet would be to check the property tax or zoning maps.

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.  

I am in the note industry and looking to do more with the physical properties as well.

West Oakland is a great bet.

I would not bet on that to happen though not impossible.All those potential scenarios are correct, appraisals or length of loan, equity are all factors. 

LillieProbably your best bet if looking specifically for landlords in Columbus is http://ohiolandlordassociation.com or if general, search for landlords on BiggerPockets

A thread based on a question I asked that might be of help: Search "Best Bets for Portfolio Loans"...