Check your local foreclosure auctions, there is usually not much competition and you can pick them up for reasonable prices.

I'm active duty and born and raised in Baltimore as well.To start I recommend checking out the Ultimate Beginners Guide to Real Estate Investing.

I work full-time and my wife stays home with our three kiddos so the idea is to be able to do things on our own time, make offers, check out properties, etc.Local REIA meet-ups are definitely on the immediate to-do list.

Jason, yes I will be using a Hard money loan, so I will check with my lender. 

Each county also has it's own website which offers more "local" information, and of course I would check out the Chamber of Commerce for each city/town or county.

My best suggestion is check out some of the local REIA events held here in the Bay Area.

Do you run background/credit checks? 

Have the traps in discreet areas and have your housekeepers check them every time they turn the house, disposing/replacing as necessary.  

These guys have been putting out some great information and I would definitely encourage you to check that one out.

Payments, Security Deposits, Late Fees, Bounced Checks, whatever involves this tenant will show up on the right hand side.