unfortunately, I don't have a good solution for this...Another option: take over some or all of the tenant screening process yourself...much of the tenant screening process can be handled remotely...do a zoom call with prospective tenants, the background check is online, have them sign the lease and pay online, etc....I self-manage all my own properties (which are local), but really, when I think about my own properties, there are very few (if any) aspects of management that absolutely require my physical presence...if I really wanted to, I could coordinate most of the management remotely--and this is esp. true for many aspects of tenant screening. ...and I know that I'd have a higher standard of tenant screening than most PMs would have...Plus, since you have experience managing your local property, you probably already have a solid understanding of how to screen tenants...Good luck!

Keep grinding for a solution.         

Private lenders, on the other hand, can be more flexible in their lending criteria and may see the potential in funding a 10-unit apartment complex as it still qualifies as a small multifamily propertyRemember, real estate investing often requires creative solutions.

Finding a solution to your personal situation is the hard part

I would talk to Shaun Weekes at Innovation Lending Solutions.

I can either put it in my employee retirement account which is not maxed out yet - (btw do I have to personally make sure I don't over fund this each year or is there some kind of monitoring going on?)

There will be questions to answer, things to check up on, and problems that need solutions.

We can buy off market and get creative with our seller solutions.  

A solution to ensuring this doesn't happen again would be to hire a yard maintenance crew.  

If you can find good people for all those positions, you can find a solution to just about any problem you face.