People are spending way too much time crunching on a screen and not viewing homes in real life.

We always used private loans from people we knew and then later networked with or were referred to us.

Do a lot of people on BP have experience with this?

As for some of the other things people have mentioned. 

Many people have read books, or taken a class or signed up for a guru or coach on the benefits of MF investments, and certainly is evidenced by the recent rise of syndications in the MF space in the last few years.

Has anyone had experience with either option and can share insights on rental yields, appreciation, management challenges, or any other considerations I might be missing?

It's a great idea, especially as we might be heading into a recession and people are going to be looking down a level in rent from what they might have otherwise.

Are there other options I’m missing?

Remember this, people book vacations with their eyes.

As you know, honestly you want to stay comparable in order to keep great people renting your nice home.