It's a place to legally go and sell stock/business without capital gains.

If you like to be risky with your capital maybe try putting it in some index funds, crypto, or stocks that you believe in and understand and then take it out when its made a good return and then use it for the downpayment.  

As if one part dies the whole thing is dead. 

I may at somepoint consider utilities like energy and water, and how I can become more self sustaining, purchasing stocks is one way I can make my money back, or obtain ownership in what I am spending on in terms of utilities. 

Check and reset them daily to remove the dead ones and reset the traps.Poison is easier and works well, but the mice die somewhere in the house and you may have an odor problem for a week or two.

For those with STRs there, what is occupancy rate and is there still some demand in off months or are off months just dead?

You have zero control over the stock market, whereas when you do private lending, you have significantly higher control and contractually guaranteed return on your money.

My thinking is I can not as it probably works as I does in the stock market with my IRA.

Say stocks.

But if I sell it and put that money in the stock market and earn let’s say 8% I would make $40,000 on the same money.