Leveraging Ron's local market expertise, we secured the property for $180,000.

I am located in the Charlotte area and would agree about the presence of our financial sector but also medical is a huge industry as well.If your outlook is 10 years then going with either option will prove fruitful.

As for the other recommendations suggested, I would have suggested the start with one unit but I would defer to local expertise and therefore fear @Jim K. is likely correct.  

What is the recommendation of those with expertise in this situation? 

Partnerships and Joint Ventures- Partner with Other Investors: Team up with experienced investors to pool resources and acquire larger properties or diversify into different real estate sectors.- Real Estate Syndication: Participate in syndication deals where multiple investors fund larger projects, such as apartment complexes or commercial properties.4.

As a real estate investor I am always curious about lending trends/debt trends in different sectors.  

California especially, hit the most layoff in 2023 in white collar sector.

The information was decent but with all gurus there is a lot of upselling which depending on your level of expertise, may not be worth the price. 

Leveraging Brittney's local market expertise, we secured the property for $190,000.

I could be wrong, but I don't know if you'll find a professional financial advisor who has expertise in real estate investing.