I have attended local meetups so that I can have a handful of experienced folks who have resources to share.  

If you’re strategic about locations, management, and financing, STRs can still offer decent returns in the right market.I totally agree that it’s not all sunshine and rainbows in real estate right now, but if you’re strategic—especially with tax savings and a long-term focus—real estate can still be a viable option alongside other investments.I agree with everything you said but it’s also important to consider the Time component.

Keep in mind with a 1031 exchange, it's important to ensure that the total value of the replacement property is equal to or greater than the property you sold.

I attended a Jerryll Noordan video call just this morning and I left the call feeling totally mislead and concerned about the integrity of the marketing tactics being used to draw investors like us to the video sales calls.I was on Facebook last night and, for the first time, saw Jerryll's ad and clicked on it.

Approx 5 commercial  properties with total combined value book value 12m .. actual maybe 20-25m?

Explore my personal favorites, Set For Life by Scott Trench or The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey, for invaluable financial insights.3.

It is A total wast of money.

Hey Randall,Your question totally depends on your goals and situation but rarely is it best to lose $200 a month. 

Consider this: there are an estimated 10K homes in Pacific Palisades, at least half of which were destroyed. 25% were constructed during the 60-70's and +/- 75 TOTAL were built in the past FIVE years. 

So you're not worried about current income...totally understandable, wish I was in the same boat ;-)