Start with safer bets and slowly get braver to beat fear and win in the property game.Good luck

Financing with a 5% a year mortgage, with 12% returns a year, with 5% to me and 2% to managing agent was one idea, but alternatives to real estate is also fine. 

And at exact same time forced the use of an alternative one, remote working.

Sounds great but no pathway to an alternative.  

An insurance policy is a possible alternative if you or the prospects can find one.

Alternatively, you can check that one, it's also free to use:https://www.realestatespreadsheets.com/online-airbnb-estimat... 

It feels a little safer for me to do it that way.

I think the best alternative out there is Hostaway but will need inputs from other members in this forum and see how is Hostaway working out. 

Any advice or alternative recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

If this is a qualified retirement account (tsp’s are) then you can transfer/roll this into an SDIRA or solo 401k and as long as the custodian allows for alternative asset investing you can invest in real estate or just about whatever you want.