(2) What are the standard key metrics that are used for comparing 2 to 4 family investment properties to each other, for the best apples to apples comparison?

And ultimately, if you're going to make a comparison between other investments, like the stock market, ROI is the actual return you make on your investments.

Sacramento has remained very stable by comparison, I believe because we are a state capitol, two major universities, business and medical sectors are strong, growing population, and some more barriers to entry to scare off the stupid money. 

In comparison the deferred sales trust has no pending legal cases, has a successful Private Letter Ruling in form and substance, has had 15 IRS audits (3 formal), 2000+ closed cases, DST law firm provides audit defense at no additional cost for life of the trust, and all IRS audits were closed as no change audits.

Do this until you build the $25k up to where your market allows you to be more of an investor.Here, you could be a full partner with someone else, and be buying cash flow deals in sequence.  

It may seem farfetched but I would have 100% done it to reduce their insane clutter.Alternatives:- Report it as an eyesore to the city if it's that drastically different in comparison to the other homes.

Saying that your comparison of your alternatives don't carry the same risk and therefore are not good comparative investments, unless you get good help.

Actually, if there are people interested in the stock market and RE market comparison, there is an article they can read to know more.

I would also keep an eye& ear out for the emerging innovators, every significant economic shift and calamity breeds innovators and those innovators require seed capital, think Facebook, Google, Netflix and so on, those early $ investors made multipliers on their capital that makes any other investment pale in comparison.

Lipstick mostly by comparison and controllable.