BUT, let’s say for personal reasons you want to “stretch” for faster wealth accumulation.  

I am not a huge fan of them personally as they are PE investors and have a very, very narrow view of the industry and how it should be approached. 

I am not sure what type of real estate investing you're considering, but it sounds like, with your family and busy job, you won't have a lot of time to be hands-on or personally involved. 

The drawback is you need to build trust and relationships upfront.Both have their place, but private money tends to offer more flexibility, while hard money is more structured and accessible if you lack personal connections.

I personally leverage, but have a large rainy day fund. 

You now don't seem like the type of person most of us would accept a recommendation from.

Personal finance is as much behavioral as it is math.

Here’s a breakdown of the main ways investors fund their first deal while minimizing their own cash outlay:1.Private Money & Hard Money Loans– These lenders focus more on the deal than on your personal finances.

I spent many years managing myself and personally collecting rent checks. 

I personally don't mind cooking on electric but I will say that cooking on propane is different than what most people know which is natural gas.