I raise money for a plethora of things such as Scholarship Endowments for the education of our student-athletes ($14m bill every year), much needed facility projects, academic services, unique educational experiences such as travel abroad opportunities.

I buy some real estate education from academics, like the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, and people who are trust worthy.

Whereas the Investopedia approach is more academic?

There is absolutely NOTHING outstanding about the academic challenges you get in a place like that in upstate New York.

I am aware most leases coincide with the academic calendar, however, I am hoping to have it rented by April/May.

Other graduate degrees (the more academic focused ones) are also a form of investment, as they'll likely also cause you to earn more, but you don't have to work X job to get the benefit, however, it also won't magically open a ton of doors that weren't already open.

Make sure whatever your insurance is, that it explicitly states that it covers whatever kinds of rentals you are doing.We told our agent 4 years ago that we rented an apartment on our first floor to visiting scholars, professors and other academics during the academic year and on Airbnb and VRBO between semesters.We also told our agent that the other rental unit we owned was rented out just on the academic market and never on the STR market.This summer we had our first potential liability claim from a STR guest.

They are their own beast, with fixed leasing periods (typically revolving around the academic calendar), students look in the fall or spring for their house for the following academic year, a tight window in the summer for repairs, etc.

Unfortunate, but it had me thinking if I should've went the clinical route instead of the academic route haha. 

Looking at medium or LTR options,  2/1 or 3/2 value-add in a fast growing, "affordable" college town with a median price 310-450k that also has some good industry (1-2 corporate campuses that can draw job growth, academic hospital with a big travel clinician pull, etc).