@Parker EberhardI'd start a church, buy some time on local cable access, lay in mail-order stocks of prayer suppositories for hemorrhoids, maybe Knock-The-Handmaid-Up-Every-Time™ boner pills.

Housing stock is OLD, low availability of QUALITY services for investors, local economy stuff (dying industries, high taxes, etc.). 

Of course COVID is making things more difficult when dealing with new appliances and shortages at the big box stores, but we're managing by paying a premium for our appliances from smaller appliance stories with more in-stock stuff and resilient supply chains.I'm not in student housing, although I currently do rent to students at one of my properties.My rentals are almost all strictly single-family C/C- class, hovering above what I see as the D-class divide in my area.

Capital gains, such as stocks, is another. 

@Bhavin Doshi My thoughts may run very counter to the BP norm - especially given (i) I am a sponsor and syndicate deals, and (ii) the majority of the advice on BP does not address other investable channel, such as the equities markets (yes, the stock market).I'm specifically keying in on your self-proclaimed lack of experience.

Several cabinets were still stocked up with household items.

While I understand there is definitely risk, it seems that the multiple exit strategies coupled with being collateralized by real estate is being touted by most podcasters and industry experts as making notes a lower risk investment than even stocks?  

The stock market is a bit euphoric now but besides investing in the market I tend to use the funds to fix up the home or for another deal.

I'm from San Francisco, used to be an engineer, and have only done passive stock market investing up until now.

Further compounding the housing shortage, many who are nervous about the pandemic have put off moving, adding to the share of the housing stock that is frozen.