You might have additional items depending on your market.1. 

Comparing real estate to the stock market really depends on your needs.

@Matt PowersFrom my experience, deciding between short-term rentals (STRs) and long-term rentals (LTRs) depends on the market.

"there are plenty of reasons why a landlord should care who is looking at their property, theft and their own personal safety being the first 2 that spring to mind, followed closely by not wanting to waste their time" These are valid reasons but depend greatly on your market and who is showing the property. 

From a commissions standpoint it depends on the agent.

I've been here since the beginning, or real close to, and am happy to help you navigate and learn the site.As for where to invest, it depends on your goals, your tolerance for risk, and how much control you want.  

I know conventional lending could become an issue depending on the condition of the property.

It depends where you are.

Now this depends on how much you want to raise, if its $1M yeah that can be done, if you go above $5M you are gonna need to spend money and I would assume someone starting out 10% of that amount to get there.

It depends on what the property appraises for in 24 months,  if you will be able to get home owner's insurance, if lenders are lending and so on.