However, the equity was more valuable in a different project, and ultimately we decided to sell and cash out the remaining equity for the next deal.

You can stick with this strategy or ultimately choose to go one way over the other depending on your situation.  

Start by reading the Ultimate Real Estate Investing Guide: https://www.biggerpockets.com/guides/ultimate-real-estate-investing-guide/introduction 2.

Start by reading the Ultimate Real Estate Investing Guide: https://www.biggerpockets.com/guides/ultimate-real-estate-investing-guide/introduction 2.

My other 2 primary investment choices have taken a beating (I might as well say what they are because I have stated them in past posts: Mineral rights in North Dakota (basically gas) and stocks). 

Buy and hold has been my primary choice for education into the real estate industry.

If debt starts to go bad it could mean massive deflation and ultimately a repricing of all the assets the fed has supported these last 10 years, aka japan in mid nineties with real estate never(as of yet) recovering.If they succeed it means asset prices and gold will soar!

@Lucas Carl means some people may not have a choice in their travel plans.

It's definitely one career choice that has paid dividends in my REI lifespan.

There are many people who have made a whole lot more money than me because of their risk tolerance, but I have always been the slow and steady wins.In uncertain economic times like this I am glad my wife and I (as a team) were able to make the economics choices we did because we are not negatively affected to the extent that many people are.I hope all new investors gain valuable insight and learn valuable lessons that will help them out in their path.The bottom line for me in life is that my family is healthy and that we are together.