Be careful of this fraudulent proof of fund letters you get from an HML or of the Internet because they have no money behind them; you can verify from an FDIC bank.Joe Gore

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.

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.  

Don't just go for the first one you read on the Internet look for reviews any referrals and once you find one that you like Set up a Skype interview with them to make sure you guys on same page as far as the screening process, do they use of credit report as well as call previous landlords, do they have any evictions any judgment against them, clauses when they do their inspection at nine months or six months, how they go about evictions so on so forth.

West Oakland is a great bet.

I have scoured the internet and cannot find any information.

A lot of homes that I have had an eye on on the internet, end up going "off market".  

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.