i noticed though that the strategies you proposed are very different... an STR is a hospitality business and syndication is (in theory) at least somewhat passive.my main tip in getting started is not to rush into anything. 

Two are for businesses, one for commercial property, one for residential property.

We both run our own businesses but we feel that real estate will help make sure we both maintain our life plans of not needed to work as much any more.

There are very few fully integrated turnkey operators in the business today.  

It's about to be your small business.

In rising markets, you might want to hold onto some properties longer to maximize your returns.By focusing on these areas, you can build a solid foundation for a scalable distressed property investment business and navigate the transition from individual deals to a thriving operation.ConclusionScaling a distressed property portfolio involves more than simply increasing the number of deals; it requires a fundamental shift in the way acquisitions, financing, and operations are structured.

I know I would get bored with not having a job or business to do lol

If you want cash flow, start or buy a business.

When picking a market, I would look for things like population and job growth, rental demand, and economic diversity—basically, is the area attracting people and businesses?

The other is a smaller operation which does a lot of business in the specific neighborhood the house is in.