We don’t want to find ourselves as a Jack of all trades and a master of none.

But I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything in the world.

probably the best outcome is to reduce the cost of adding housing.  

., you will come out on top just take a bit longer so you need to underwrite that in mind.If the former, I would do a combination of fixed income, private lending, and note buying and trade the arb.

But the rental too does have to meet the "active conduct of a trade or business" threshold, which does mean you wouldn't qualify to use section 179 if you have a rental that is managed entirely by someone else and you aren't at least overseeing it and making decisions about the management of it.I mostly disagree with the reply suggesting that you need to have an LLC to take the section 179 deduction. 

I am on commission only compensation, so I moved back in with my parents, and am trading all of my time (60-70 hour work weeks) for little/no money. 

That will have a much larger impact on your outcome versus the debt product. 

However, if friends/family/community members can get them there, that’s going to give them the best possible financial outcome in a horrible situation.

What was the outcome?

I'm presently a facilities engineer by trade, who does some construction and maintenance for landlords on the side, hoping to get back into the private real estate game.