At $150, you could get one and haul it in yourself.

If you are the kind that wants to get your hands dirty, you don't have to haul tools everywhere.

add the A/c unit , this will save you in the long haul and it is for sure a selling point to tenants and later landlords.

Also Know Condos tend to be the last to rise in a hot market, and first to fall in a declining market, with larger swings than houses. you dont have control of financibility to a future buyer either, if the HOA becomes insolvent or the level of foreclosures reach a specific level the Secondary market will not lend in that complex, these factors in a downturn push your values significantly lower. if you are in it for the long haul, and plan to be paid off by the end of your loan term fine, no problem, but be prepaired to be stuck with the property when markes change. 

We toyed with the idea of buying property and building a house with my brother-in-law.

The damage to the floor is excessive.When I visited the property to inspect or make repairs I noticed that there was always a lot of dirt, broken toys, and sticky mess everywhere I looked.

Over the long haul I think Real Estate is a clear winner over the other investments you mention. 

I'm toying the idea of selling my SFR in 95119.

If you built new and a bunch of junky houses and nothing is turning you are in a for a long haul.

No big kid toys?