Specifically, is there a statistical difference in the likelihood of actually acquiring the physical property versus simply earning interest on the debt as a financial investment?

Most folks are willing to sit down and impart knowledge especially if you pick up the tab for lunch etc.     

It may sound nice to pay a 6% management fee but the extra fees can add up to be more than the other company that charges 10% with no additional fees.

Go to local meet-ups, make friends with people who buy houses with cash, and look at lots of houses.

Personally, I don't like condos- HOAs and surprise special assessments can eat up any potential profits and in most states, they can just change the rules when they want to and decide that LTRs or STRs are no longer allowed. 

In my experience it just indicates people who probably grew up in a family where they were not sophisticated with money.

pid=2107Houston Real Estate Highlights in July, 2024:-Single-family home sales rose 1.8 percent year-over-year;-Days on Market (DOM) for single-family homes went from 42 to 44 days;-Total property sales were down 2.1 percent with 8,969 units sold;-Total dollar volume increased 4.4 percent to $3.8 billion;-The single-family median price increased 2.9 percent to $350,000;-The single-family average price rose 4.7 percent to a record high of $445,440; -Single-family home months of inventory registered a 4.3-months supply, up from 3.1 months last July;-Townhome/condominium sales continued to decline, falling 19.5 percent, with the median price up 0.7 percent to $221,500 and the average price declined 0.8 percent to $261,123.

Based on YOY return where this is located my sale price is $20k-$30k lower than present market, and it should just keep going up, but this mix-use presents an issue. 

Now that understand that part, now I need to figure out 1250 recapture rules, for an add back of previously deducted depreciation.I cant figure out how to find, on my tax returns, the total depreciation over the years up to 2023 on each property.

Since this was your primary residence 2 of the last 5 years you would be exempt from taxes on a sale up to $250k in profit ($500k if married filing jointly).