It seems like usually when people talk about commuting it's by car, so that's why I said Fed Hill and areas close by. Also, other than Friday/Saturday nights and Ravens games, I actually don't think parking is too bad once you know where to go. Your suggestions are valid too, the Fed Hill area just seemed like a nice middle ground suggestion.

Plus, that's why I made my first point - rent in any part of the city that is reasonable commuting distance, get a feel for the city, and THEN think about buying. I think it'd be crazy to buy in a city you don't know anything about. Even visiting for a weekend (or multiple) seems like it wouldn't be enough to fully understand the traffic, public transportation, etc.