If you're playing Poker, and you have put a lot of chips in the pot, but your hand hasn't improved enough from all the draws, what do you do?

Selling now avoids capital gains tax and lets you reinvest into a new primary home and a solid rental property, which feels like the safer play given the cash flow challenges and ARM timeline.

The STR, if purely an appreciation play,  is speculation to me. 

I also believe social media plays a big role in people not really wanting to work, especially with younger folks.

Most gulf front investments are mostly appreciation plays unless you do a serious renovation.

I've done it, but it is extremely labor intensive, and as a result - expensive.

It's good to hear that you want to play the long-term hold game as that is how you'll ultimately build equity.  

Pricing for MTRs is just as labor intensive as market research is as of now.

If you're aiming for growth and can secure a low-interest mortgage, financing might be the better play.

Playing the long game, it's not for those chasing rainbows, definently for the LT planned methodical focus.