We utilize Facebook and Craigslist.

Since you have used your VA Loan consider the fact that (and I may be incorrect here) that after 1 year of living in your primary residence you can now utilize the VA loan again if you are moving to a new primary residence.

I don't think taking the lockbox off will help you - it's much easier to pick the actual lock, than cracking the LB open.You won't be able to meet the scammers, they will ask you to mail money.. 

So Google “real estate meet ups Baltimore” , pick several and go network.In addition to defining your strategy/focus as Ned mentions above,  another action step is to lay out the steps you need to complete (preferably in priority order) to set yourself up for a faster ramp up in your area of focus.  

I thought that having separate utilities paid by the tenants would be a plus, but I never thought about them not paying and freezing the placeIs there a reason that you both prefer propane to oil?  

If I pick up a property for say 60% of appraised value and I put together a lease option to an end buyer for 100% of appraised value on a 3 year term, after a seasoning of 6-12 months from the bank, can I refinance the property for 70-80% of appraised value while it is under lease contract?

He has done all the work in the last 10 years to separate all the utilities so all he pays is th annual maintenance on the property.

That may pick up.Homes are sitting on the MLS longer than say those crazy days of 1-2 and you get an instant +30% appreciation with just two years of ownership.I do agree flopping is tough.

But the connections for utilities are still available, water, septic.

As another alternative, you could sell the house, take your $500,000 excluded capital gains as your primary residence, pay your capital gains taxes (both federal and state), and buy your new property utilizing a small purchase loan or even reverse purchase mortgage to make up the difference?