Add 5.82% long term appreciation (the rate for this century) we get 10.6% return plus tax savings/advantages. 

Needs get addressed and I figure if I spend the next 5-8 years letting the wants wait ,we will be at a financial advantage point to begin to live the life that we and in my opinion everyone deserves .

Despite being assured that there would be significant tax savings on my 2023 taxes, there were no cost savings or advantages to having paid $5,000 for strategy in that tax year.

@Scott LorenceThe advantages to renting to college students are that they generally leave after a few years so you can do repairs or updates, you can raise rents on a regular schedule, they will pay a premium to be near campus, and if you get engineering students they tend to fix the small stuff on their own.

Here are a few suggestions on how you can maximize the wealth of information available: Check out the blogs and podcasts, or take advantage of the search feature (magnifying glass).

So I have been doing some research looking for programs/classes to take advantage of and I posted in here but never really got any answers from anyone.

You obviously don't get the tax benefits of real estate, but if you're just looking for "returns", then lending your money out could be advantageous for your goal.

Here are a few suggestions on how you can maximize the wealth of information available: Check out the blogs and podcasts, or take advantage of the search feature (magnifying glass).

Or sell using the 1031 exchange along with a partial 121 primary residence exemption There is a way you could take advantage of the 121 primary residence exclusion allowing you to take the first $250k of the gain tax free ($500k if married) and qualify for a 1031 exchange.Say you purchase a property as your primary residence (house hack extra rooms for extra income) and lived there for two years while stationed there.

I might suggest getting your own appraisal where you select the appraiser that knows your situation and you can talk to and discuss their approach.