Would your base pay be higher if you took a regular private sector job instead of working public service and having your student loans forgiven?

In some down markets, Section 8 actually props up rents because of this inelasticity.If these communities are so terrible, the private sector won't push into that area, not the other way around.  

@Mark BRAUN, 1031 fits into the scenario because it is exactly the way to move between property classes to capture cash flow and slumps in the market sector or geographically.  

I would work to find someone who is successful in that sector and either partner with them or offer my help FOR FREE.

I am part owner in a successful fireworks business and was doing drafting and design in the civil engineering field in the corporate world and private sector as an independent contractor.

This sector is being hit quite hard by our economic condition.

If the energy sector should slow down in our state, there is never a shortage of low to medium tenants willing to rent.  

Now, please don't take that as ANY sort of "sky is falling" type talk, its just the extreme example of what has actually happened to more than a few who've had things go VERY bad, but the landlord I knew was also certainly at fault himself in many ways, but wiping someone out, which was actually done by his private sector creditors, yet only due to what the city got going, seemed extreme to me and had collateral damage for anyone he employed. 

I'd love to write a long response as this is a topic of interest to me, but I'm short on time right now so I'll keep my thoughts brief.In general, the commercial sector is wrestling with the mess it's in due to property depreciation that has affected many states, declining business revenues, and borrowers who are often in a weakened financial state.To add to the problem, you have lenders who are dealing with fixing their balance sheets, trying to get rid of toxic assets, and in some cases, being watched/managed by the FDIC.When you factor in the billions of commercial paper that is coming due just this year alone, you have a real mess.However, banks seem to be more willing than before to take a haircut on a loan if they really want it off their books.

One of the first things you have to decide is what sector of RE you want to invest in.