Financial freedom is all about buying and hold properties for the rest of your life - that's how you get appreciation, cash flow, principal paydown, and depreciation.

If two funds need money for litigation support, that seems telling on the current financial condition.

You will also need about 6 months of reserves deposited in a traditional financial institution rather than a crypto account.The next step is to find the target property and calculate the acquisition costs and costs of construction along with the after-repair value. 

I know that the general guidance is that emergency funds aren't to be invested, but given our financial security and the fact that we already have a personal e-fund in a safe, non-volatile location, would it still be crazy/unwise to invest this 15k in an S&P500 index fund in a brokerage? 

Wealth Building: Paying off the first STR focuses on cash flow and financial security, while buying another property focuses on scaling and wealth building.

Love your wife, but help her understand and see the financial benefits of sacrificing now for the comforts and freedoms that early sacrifices will make in the long term. 

As firefighters persist in battling the blazes, many residents are left assessing their financial and emotional losses.

Can you share some financial numbers related to your house hack?

With the future being so uncertain I realized there was a need to do more than just rely on my job for financial security. 

There should be some financial advisors or real estate attorneys on here around your area who specializes in hospitality ventures and might provide valuable insights tailored to your situation.