But if you look at annuities, they are an insurance product, not as much an investment product.What insurance companies do with your money you invest in their annuity is put it in the stock market and keep the difference of what they pay you and what they make in the stock market.  

For context, professionally Stocks and Options is my career course and comfort zone.

My wife and I have been investing in the stock market for retirement for years and we are hoping to diversify our investments by getting started in real estate. 

Definitely look at one that allows you to invest in stock so if you have a little money leftover from a deal or while you’re waiting for the next deal you’re not losing income.

In recent years, we've often heard predictions about a housing market crash.

Neither of us can predict the future price (nobody can).

I've got a very basic, possibly philosophical (lol) question.Owning stock market or ETF shares means you own a portion of the company or fund. 

Syndications are naturally a higher risk asset class so you should be getting rewarded for taking that risk by getting more return than the stock market.

Jay, yes, all fish in the national park are wild; there has been no stocking since the early 1970s.

It would take roughly 1.2m in 3% dividend paying stocks to earn that much.