Being a carpenter, I have the unique opportunity to fix and flip, and with the market in Buffalo taking off as it is, I feel like now is the time to begin to clarify our vision and make something good happen.

You should consider coming out to the Gaithersburg meetup. https://www.meetup.com/Gaithersburg-BP-Real-Estate...Note, actual location is in Rockville now.You should also read @Chris Seveney's post, as he is local and invests in notes.Multifamily can be a hard niche in the DC area as we have a very very low number of multis that even exist. 

But, I'd what you made is sufficient the you found a decent niche.

From what I understand, their unique value in the market is their data.

. - Generally, I wholeheartedly agree, but there are two things (three really) that are unique to Baltimore (at least I think they are unique to Baltimore)...1) Baltimore is very aggressive when it comes to historic preservation. 

Large, above average profits are possible in a fund at first, but as a fund gets too big and buys up all the good stock or bonds, naturally the fund becomes either overinvested in one niche, or has to take the excess money and apply it into other stocks that aren't as profitable.

Investor lower price and higher headache so unless a broker/agent focuses on thrives on that niche then to them it is maybe another sale but they are not going to put every minute of the day into making it happen.  

I had a brand new construction home I bought 200k and the tenant for some reason totally destroyed it.. now it was so bad that the insurance company covered it and went after the guy criminally.. but it was over 40k in damages.. but lots and lots of stolen items stripped items.. contractors stealing .. its a challenge and one that I think is best suited for someone like you who lives there and watchs them like a hawk and with your background that is a HUGE bonus.when I started funding turn key companies in Detroit in 02.. they had some pretty unique systems on the rehab side.. 

you can sell real estate or wholesale ( although I think that's not quite legal in FLA and I KNOW its no in Oregon) and make money bringing two parties together.. but that is more like any other commission job.. you can sell cars and do the same thing.. its a progression that's for sure and you have to chose your niche.. 

I should also mention that I am in a unique situation, in that my mortgage for my own residence is fully paid and I plan to continue to work FT (while slowly building my rental portfolio), so I don't really *need* the cash flow...