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So I lost the deal, but i understood why ultimately someone came with all cash at a higher price. 

I would caution that whatever route you take, be consistent to each and every tenant because if you say one thing but do 2 or 3 things, courts will not look positively at you for inconsistent practices.If/when you need to find new tenants, be sure to have your own application, use the GBREB forms, and I've used the smartmove background/credit check online system multiple times with much success.BTW, you will find multiple opinions of what to do or not do... neither is right or wrong, everyone has their own system that works for them, so you will need to make that choice on your own.  

The choices are:- Seed Lawn- Sod Lawn- Drought resist lanscapingMy broker is encouraging me to use sod for a quick sale, but the irrigation district has limited watering to two days a week.The neighborhood is about fifty years old without HOA restrictions.

There seem to be couple of good deals in Baltimore but my concern is that the schools nearby are rated poorly by Zillow and that ultimately affects my future tenants. 

I have noticed anyone and everyone in South Florida thinks they should get a real estate license; I would be a proponent of making it much more difficult to et a license, maybe resulting in individuals getting a license as a career choice, not a weekend whim.

Have you read the Ultimate Guide to REI?

I can appreciate your choice to invest out of your area. 

It is one of my ultimate goals to take an unconventional building and turn it into a rental.

If you haven't yet, be sure to check out the The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Real Estate Investing and The BiggerPockets Podcast.