Yes, most CRE asset classes are down but that doesn't make me want to run to the stock market or active real estate. 

I am not a fan of the stock market.

However, if I earn too much “earned income,” I risk losing these essential benefits.That’s why I’m exploring real estate and the stock market, as these generate “unearned income” and allow me to maintain my benefits while building financial security.

Ultimately, I realized that trying to wait for a perfect moment feels a lot like attempting to time the stock market or predict a real estate bubble.There may be advantages to waiting and seeing how the election affects market policies, but it's hard to predict when those policies will take effect or how they’ll impact the market.

If the principle pay down is over $500/mo at least you’re still “making money” and actually a little more every month.

I believe that any losses you have in the stock market could offset rental income.On the other hand, the better solution is to not have any net rental income. 

It happens to be one of the easier businesses to run, but if you think of it like investing in stocks you're not going to do well.

Interesting that your market is slowing, but Chris's market is doing well around Orlando.Jacksonville hasn’t been building as many total units as Orlando, but Jacksonville has been top 10 in the nation for building new housing units as a percentage of current stock.

You can't sell a portion of a property like you can sell portions of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc.

The only “control” an investor has when he invests in REITS, (or any stocks for that matter), mutual funds, real estate syndications, whether debt or equity, or minority shares in a business, is whether to keep or to sell his investment, and often not even that.