I love it.Initial things to consider - Real Estate is a tangible investment versus stocks, which aren't. 

Like creating a stock portfolio, you could invest in some high appreciation markets and have some cash flow ones to offset the income.If you are thinking long term, appreciation is the way to go and generally at the higher price points.

An emergency fund needs to be liquid, and immediately available to you in addition to being low risk and protecting principle. 

Are there any particular ways you've cultivated that or books you'd recommend which harped on the same principles you learned in your real estate courses?

I have no investment experience, only stock market and IRA’s, but I hope to learn a lot from professionals on this forum.

Highly recommend you looking into a checkbook IRA instead of cashing out.Sure you can take out the principle since you’ve already paid taxes on it but this money is supposed to be for your retirement and in a Roth your real estate can grow tax free, though check with a CPA to see if STR will trigger UBIT in an IRA.

My husband is a physician and we have a couple homes, stocks, other investments, etc. 

Leverage - someone mentioned Real Estate doesn't beat stock market returns and while that might be true in absolute terms, it's definitely beat the market when you consider leverage.

When you start raising money, the kinds of investors you're going to get are individuals who want to make a better return than the stock market. 

Hope is the industry gets some relief soon and I can revisit some options to further improve asset revenue through amenities and/or roll into a better rate a lower principle.