You probably aren't going to find any markets in Maryland with a lower price-of-entry then Baltimore, so if "low budget appeal" is your driving factor then focus on Baltimore and maybe Dundalk.  

Focus on building your wealth by re-fi your equity and investing in other areas (as recommended by @Costin Iorgulescu).

My advice would be to focus that time instead on meeting other investors in your local market, looking for flip deals, buy and hold deals etc.

Matt,self-directed IRA is a niche and instead of focusing on location you should focus on the quality of service and the experience a particular company can provide you.

This year, I would like to really focus on learning real estate as much as I can, network with real estate-minded people, hopefully find mentors, and make my first deal (Small Multi-Family with intent to House Hack as I am renting right now).

I have a virtual assistant company that focuses on helping real estate investors and agents.

My main focus is the I5 corridor from Everett to Blaine but I'll take a deal wherever it leads me. 

For the time being I don’t have any properties, but was planning diving back in 2018 and focusing on mostly in small to medium multifamily properties.

What areas are you looking at focusing your properties? 

I'm currently working a 9-5 job in mid management, but looking to one day quit the rat race and hopefully focus on REI full time.