In a stable free economy the natural tendency is for prices to go down not up.

Are a lot of people in it for themselves, and will give you advice that will benefit them, of course, that is human nature?

Death, Divorce, Disease, Natural Disaster, etc.  

Alternatively, you would need to drop your rents by $500 or more to have the same impact on your cashflow and your value.

Most real estate agents actually do not have the need to go into an office to close transactions and meet clients at either a natural location or at the properties they are showing or listing. 

Unfortunately, some renters will say anything—even things that make no sense in an alternate universe—to avoid responsibility or financial consequences.

., desks and Wi-Fi for professionals, cribs and baby gates for families).Evaluate Your Own SpaceYour property’s layout, amenities, and location may naturally cater to a specific audience.A cozy 1-bedroom apartment downtown might be ideal for professionals or couples.A 3-bedroom house with a yard might appeal more to families.Proximity to nightlife might cater to party groups.Experiment and AdjustIf you're unsure, start broad and monitor who books your property.

Additionally, I understand the risks associated with obtaining hard cash and working with hard money lenders, including higher interest rates due to the short term nature of the loan as well as the risk involved.

Alternatively, I have spent the last decade doing technical work in cybersecurity, and can land a job between $140k-$190k (depending on where in the US). 

With your background in lease management and site selection, that could be a natural next step.Regarding STRs, I can understand the hesitation—accurate expense tracking is critical, and not having that data can make evaluating deals frustrating.