For short-term gains, options like private lending, where your IRA acts as the lender, can provide consistent returns through interest payments.

Any recommendations for free tools to do market research?

how is rental market in that area these days? 

There is a lot of information on BP regarding being a private lender and outside groups taht have a lot of support in this space.

As we wrap up the year and look ahead to 2025, the real estate market continues to present unique challenges and opportunities for investors, brokers, and lenders alike.

Like @Chris Seveney said, private lending is a great way to go as well.  

Those are some very different markets you listed.

One big one is that scaling the lease option sale to a homeowner will attract both public regulatory scrutiny and private litigation, perhaps class action, once it reaches a certain threshold.  

Big cities tend to have more regulations, more crime, more leftist-leaning policies that hurt investors and private property rights, etc.

It's not quite as easy as renting out two sides of a duplex, but with the right marketing and management you could rent out the extra unit to supplement the mortgage payment.