Also, which choice is better for you highly depends on what your real estate goals are and the experience level & skillset of the specific agent.Traditional agent and Redfin Agent could essentially be the same thing in many cases.

It's also easier to handle dips in census similarly to dealing with rental vacancy if you have one rental property compared to a larger apartment building.My wife loves the operations but we have steadily been working her out of the day-to-day stuff. 

These deals typically require larger cash outlays (50k-100k) per deal minimums.

Aiming for larger properties on your first deal (100+ units) is definitely very ambitious. 

Here are some thoughts on your choices:401k Loan: This can be a good option since you're borrowing from yourself, but it comes with repayment risk, especially if you leave your job.

TX market has been a popular choice for those seeking higher appreciation.

Is there a way to use a 1031 over time to sell rentals and use the tax deferred money to buy a larger purchase?

So choice is staying stock market and making 15%-20% or buying property and MAYBE breaking even. 

That unit with the waitlist is the only pet-friendly home (duplex) with a fully fenced-in yard accepting more than 1 pet, including larger animals. 

Or should I wait it out a couple of years until I have a larger amount saved up.