If you can’t wait 5-10 years then try something else the younger impatient generations are investing in like crypto and BTC and hope for the best.

anyone familiar with the town of Clinton, or Laurens Co in general? 

Also I pick up the coin op laundry money then on the two buildings that have it.

If you don't specify how the tenant pays, you can put up with all kinds of stupidity; I know of an instance where a tenant delivered a big box of coins to the landlord for rent payment. 

You can open and SDIRA or Solo 401k (if you qualify) with checkbook control cutting out the middle man and invest in alternative assets like Real estate, crypto, etc...only restriction is collectables.   

While the Fed has signalled that it will cut rates three times in 2024, and I believe them, any projections for what will happen after that are a coin flip. 

As an investor you should try to attain both sides of the coin, get some cash-flow and go after the appreciation... find a deal that gives you both. 

My biggest fear at this point: Buying at the top of the market and only seeing losses (I've run into this in the stock market and crypto, so trying to avoid the trifecta here) 

It's great being a wholesaler because I still get them low enough to send to investors so they can still make a decent coin. 

Here is a blog where I wrote about a recent 42 unit we bought and did creative things to add value. https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/bought-multi-million-dollar-apartment-complex-age-26/Just a few ways to produce ancillary income:- Laundry Coin laundryDetergent/laundry essentials in a vending machine in the common area laundry rooms.Rent individual W/D to each unit-Parking Garage parkingCovered parkingprime spot parkingJust plain old charge for parking-Renovations Interior units upgradesCommon area renovationExterior upgrades for curb appeal-Vending machines In common areas such as exercise room, pool house, laundry or leasing office-Trash pick up service In high-end buildings they have a service where you can set trash outside your door and for a fee maintenance will go around each night and collect it so the resident doesn't have to carry it to the dumpster.