I had a great administrative assistant, smart as a whip, who worked for me full time for several years in a different industry.

Thanks for the idea Bob, I am somewhat familiar with MLP's and it's a good consideration but I am worried about the Obama administration reforming the corporate tax code which would negatively affect MLP's overall.

@Jaden Adams, full disclosure here: I’m an educator—a K-12 college prep school administrator, actually—so I’ve dedicated my life to schooling, both personally and for a career.

That would create an additional administrative layer and cost that likely exceeds the benefit provided on a single low dollar investment. 

My opinion is this (formed from personal experience investing in just about every way possible - house flips, wholesaling, short term rentals, long term rentals, new construction, NN commercial, NNN commercial)The most passive way to invest in real estate is buying a NNN property and outsourcing the administrative work (invoicing the tenant, paying the tax bill, etc).

You should also speak with a 1031 Exchange administrator if you want to defer those capital gains until a later time. 

The fund management and LP reporting experience can be adequately managed through a good fund administrator.

I'm getting a resume ready to look for some administrative or clerical work to handle my expenses in the meantime.  

Like many, I humbly want to learn all I can about real estate investment and hope to build wealth over time.I moved to the Triangle area a few years back and completed my Masters of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

It is likely you will need to pursue administrative avenues first.