.• Use some equity from the sale to make this transition smoother.I’m torn between maintaining our current home as an asset and buying  a new smaller house to use as a rental after we move back in versus simplifying and focusing on a single upgraded property Considering factors like market trends, potential equity growth, and quality of life, which path do you think would be most beneficial?

Even if you had 5 or 50 rentals you could still have one bank account. wehave 60+ assets and have one bank account. 

I prefer Section 8 tenants to low income cash paying tenants but there is a damn good reason why many landlords won't put voucher holders in high end properties.

You are still personally guaranteeing the loan.And you did the right thing by putting the assets into an entity, especially if there is equity.

This is the real value of this particular asset.  

If you are asking why real estate, it's not for you because you are asking people to convince you about an asset class you somehow have determined to be not good for you.

Usually, the confidence comes from more reps (seeing more homes and being more of an asset hunter not a spreadsheet warrior) and going to local meetups so you can meet all the other people nearby who are doing what you can't get yourself to do.Ok Elizabeth, Ready for it? 

IMO 6 months is nothing compared to other illiquid assets.

Personally, I would prefer to use the HELOC approach.

But, I prefer 3rd party over self management right now because I have higher priorities and just have to purchase properties with thicker margins to absorb the added vacancy and repair costs.