It would be very difficult to invest so far outside of you market unless you have someone on the ground where the properties are.

Faith and family trump career.One double at a time keeps me a little more grounded.

You mentioned office space but retail might go on the ground floor.

The key to out of state investing is to find a really good "boots on the ground" partner.  

I have been calling on references on our first Property and I get these other landlords that don't want to talk to me. They say to fax in a request.

Is this normal?

Anyone have examples they use?

Surveyors same thing If I meet them there and I drive metal stakes into ground I save more money (that is if my lender won't let me use the current owners survey).

If you need assistance with "boots on the ground" let's talk, I 'd be glad to help.

Specifically, are there passive investors operating in a middle ground between the "buy distressed/manage entire rehab yourself" folks and those that go hands off for turnkeys?

Who/what do I need to contact in order to get my entity off the ground?

Start attending Meetups and REIAs in the Baltimore area and start networking, get connected with people that know the city and get those proverbial "boots on the ground" that can help you even though you are probably 50 miles - but with traffic 2 hours!