Ultimately you will have to sell your house at a discount. 

I currently have a majority of my savings invested in the stock market but am looking to diversify into real estate and other ventures to achieve my financial goals.

I would focus on saving enough money that if I had a deal go bad, then that money I saved was there to cover it. 

Their property sat vacant for a few months while their guy "saved them money".

They are going to have the real costs and lessons learned that will save you lots of time and potentially headaches. 

Do you save three months of vacancy for each unit and $50,000 for the roof replacement?

After entry, save receipts and back up in a file for that year. 

Use Automated Follow-Ups to Build RelationshipsMost deals aren’t closed on the first contact, which is why follow-ups are essential.Example Workflow:Day 1: Send a thank-you email after a seller contacts you.Day 3: Share a case study of a seller you helped.Day 7: Send a friendly reminder with a call-to-action like “Let’s schedule a quick call to discuss your options.”Pro Tip: Mix email and SMS follow-ups to keep the conversation warm.Why It Works:Automation saves you time while nurturing leads until they’re ready to sell.3.

If you’re strategic about locations, management, and financing, STRs can still offer decent returns in the right market.I totally agree that it’s not all sunshine and rainbows in real estate right now, but if you’re strategic—especially with tax savings and a long-term focus—real estate can still be a viable option alongside other investments.I agree with everything you said but it’s also important to consider the Time component.

Seller Pre-Sale Financing: Consider selling the tenant-occupied property "as-is" now to an investor, perhaps at a slight discount, which could save time and eliminate renovation costs.