I could also set any of these activities on the shelf today and pick them back up at anytime and still have the same joy as I have had with them previously.Real estate isn't entirely about money for me. 

If you can live with an off-the-shelf design you can go straight to the builder.

I can tell you of hundreds of renters over the years that were employed at "stable" jobs only to lose their job for various reasons.

Or would they rather have the stable, "guaranteed" return acting as a debt partner/hard money lender?

I am in similar situation, any advice on where to find commercial properties that are stable/longer term leases.

@Nick GerliColumbus, Ohio has seen stable growth with strong rents.

If you are investing out of state, I'd consider going with a stable area where you will hopefully get long term tenants. 

I have a very high cash flowing property with ~65% equity and an excellent long term tenant who wants to stay for at least 5 more years, another on large acreage that breaks even with close to 50% equity (the investment value of that one is in the land/Timber, not the rental, good tenants though with stable incomes) and lastly the one I live in with ~40% equity that I am using as a house hack for BRRR. 

Indianapolis is a very stable market that has seen consistent growth, but not gangbusters growth.

Depending on a Section 8 tenant's income, you may also hit a rent ceiling due to the 40% rule, where a tenant can't spend any more than 40% of their income on housing.But I'm with @Brian Garlington, Section 8's the most stable and profitable niche out there, when done right.