I know that you are in a growth market and inflation will make your returns better.

MTV recently hosted the VMA awards at Prudential Center which was a win for the city and an example of Newark as a City on the Rise and potential tourist destination, but this water crisis was like a cloud dimming the sunlight. 

Home prices are not coming down, inventory is staying low, and prices and appreciation values continue to rise. 

Or, is it better to stick with the job you already have until your non-job income rises enough?

When I started saving I didn't have enough to be bothered by the 1.8% return on my money market account, but now that I've accumulated a bit I'm starting to lament loosing to inflation while I continue to save. 

Like you said, you can get higher but then you have rules. 2% should allow you to keep up with inflation at the very least. 

Look at any major architectural feats, the creation of ancient empires, historic works of art, and even the rise of Facebook and Uber; they were carefully and intentionally planned.

Your biggest issue and area of sensitivity in terms of NPV is going to be the discount rate you apply, which needs to factor in inflation/realistic risk free alternatives for your buyer to invest their money, riskiness of the payments (e.g., is the deal cancellable?

Have seen people retire on rental sales only to later have to go back to work because of inflation.

Even if the market takes a long time to recover from the recession and even if mortgage rates rise, the amount of inflation coming down the pipeline should help RE to perform handsomely in nominal terms and probably come close to treading water in real terms.