You can also check their reviews online at Google, Facebook, or Yelp.

Upon checking out the home, I felt comfortable offering 240k and no credits due to my prior experience of checking out homes in the area.

Checked out their website...looks very interesting!

Find the local bank with the most branches and have the tenant make direct deposit there - no personal checks. 

I understand you're looking for a good area with good growth at a good price in the Tri-State Area but if the numbers aren't making sense, it could be worth check out the market in the Midwest specifically in Ohio. 

I pay them all by check and all have legit full time business.....no "side work" guys.  

if I did a drug, criminal, credit check on you, is there anything I should know?

Here is 3 scenarios1) invest $30k today and in a year invest $41k which will generate $900/month rent (no idea how you make money at these rent points but that would be a separate post)2) invest in money market currently ~5% for regular money market, currently ~5.3% for preferred customers for a year.  

I've found a few houses with these additions or conversions and when I check with the city, there were never permits so I know a lot of people just do it anyway.

I know this is pretty obvious, but have you tried checking the Montgomery County property tax records or the property tax assessment records online for Silver Spring?