Retirees like myself are advised to have a couple years of living expenses set aside in cash savings so we don't freak out if the markets crash.

This gives retirees more money on their dollar, while getting them out of the management responsibilities they had energy for in their youth. 

I have many aspirational investing goals as a retiree.

new retiree with too much time on my hands

But also lots of retirees in others.

One plus for the 3 to 2 conversion is a I might get easier/cleaner tenants like a professional couple or retirees rather than a family with kids squeezed into small bedrooms.Thoughts?

Small lending will get a chance, small business will find better rates, bonds will finally become worthwhile, stocks PE should decrease, and retirees will get a break.  

Not everyone is currently an early retiree nor do they have experience in the real estate field.  

There are a lot of military and retirees on the site.

Unless you are in an urban core city most of the outlining suburban to rural towns in rust belts states are dying off.The reason is very simple as the population ages with over 25 million retirees they are flocking to warm-belt states.