If it is, and you have no reason to fear for its long-term safety (which I understand is a big question in Illinois,) I wouldn't cash out - a guaranteed monthly check sometime in the future is better than a gamble, even on real estate.

I'm also in a high cost of living area (Southern CA) and have chosen to invest out of state.

Sure, if you don't mind gambling with your future.

Otherwise it’s just gambling!

Buying thinking that the next recession won’t affect real estate is just gambling in my opinion.

Im sure you aware that your chosen area is very competitive based on the demand for your location.

Contrast this with basically vetting a syndicator or using a syndicator of syndicators that choose the syndications for a portion of the return and can exert much more effort and capital vetting the chosen syndications.  

Hi Danny, What he probably gave you is a Buyers Exclusive Agreement meaning that you have chosen him as your exclusive Buyer's Agent for Real Estate in MA.

That's gambling, straight up!

I know I still have lot of research to do before I can talk intelligently about any of the un-conventional options, so I haven't chosen a particular path I want to go down at this point.The main reason I'm asking is because there are some turn of the century, mixed use, properties I'm looking at with retail space below and apartments above.