There is a crawlspace directly under-that has visual stress cracks on the outside walls at each end and the walls appear starting to fall outward. 

They can provide insights into the market dynamics, neighborhoods, and property valuations.

No matter how much you say you can separate business from friendship as soon as your friendship enters a business relationship the dynamic changes.

If were in that situation, I wouldn't bother until the dynamic changed (i.e. the new business has stabilized in a couple of years where it doesn't require my effort and time anymore).On the other hand it does sound like you have enough time to analyze investments (which is all that passive investing requires). 

If you have a crystal ball to advise us all as to when the dynamics in the marketplace will shift, and how, I would sure like a little help.

It is old... really old. and as I move in to land lording my own way, I think this word is terrible and simply reinforces this old power dynamic.

Thanks for the visual... 

For me right now, the dynamic is that I've expressed that I'm not overly excited about the day to day with what I do with real estate. 

The used/new home dynamic is certainly also part of this and not something I have a lot of experience with.

My day job is working as a mechanical, manufacturing, integration engineer for the company of Raytheon for 2 years now and prior to that 4 years at General Dynamics.