One last point: remember that the main underlying reasons for all this regulation --- at least on its face --- is to protect the tenants and ordinary consumers.

Kids are messy, expensive and time consuming.

No such thing as accelerating a mortgage due to loss in value on a consumer real estate transaction.

1-bed apartment building unit won't be $800 unless it's really fancy.Downtown luxury rentals are exception but it's a different market.However, you still will feel the difference between $3-4K rentals and $800's - PM will be much more time consuming. 

Nearly all of the content I consumed on my own was about real estate.

Paint may not cost much, but painting is time consuming and labor intensive.Countertop: It's hard to say from your description. 

This is also something that many real estate agents do not like to do, it can be very time consuming and will lead to a lot of rejections.  

I have consumed so much of time trying to read and watch youtube videos on the residential side of things (to the point I think I am suffering from information overload and absolutely need to just DO it). 

Been consuming all the guides and podcasts I can!

Although you have not given much detail, my first hunch is that an airbnb would be more likely to generate more money for you, but that it will be more time consuming and hands on.