You are still personally guaranteeing the loan.And you did the right thing by putting the assets into an entity, especially if there is equity.

.• Use some equity from the sale to make this transition smoother.I’m torn between maintaining our current home as an asset and buying  a new smaller house to use as a rental after we move back in versus simplifying and focusing on a single upgraded property Considering factors like market trends, potential equity growth, and quality of life, which path do you think would be most beneficial?

I prefer graduate students whenever possible because they don't have time for partying, are of legal age anyway, and generally tend to be by themselves or with a partner so it's more like renting to a couple.

What’s your communication style and preferred level of involvement with this deal?

When a syndicator noted recently that due to 8 degree temps in ATL, THREE of their assets were wracked by frozen pipes bursting, it caused me a little alarm, a little worry---and then I went back to watching TV.

If you are asking why real estate, it's not for you because you are asking people to convince you about an asset class you somehow have determined to be not good for you.

Leverage is a big factor in real estate investing, as investors can control large assets with relatively small down payments, increasing their potential returns (and risks).6.

My particular lender is Peak Asset Lending.

They have not toured and I'd prefer to tell them that they don't qualify before they press me for a tour. 

You can certainly own multiple assets in the same LLC, but I would be careful about operating a business and owning other real estate or investments in that LLC.