Discount brokerages are probably your best bet.

If you do not have a lot of real estate experience then your best bet is to work with a local realtor who specializes in developmental and/or commercial properties.

Followed by double digit unemployment again?

Sure there is risk but an educated investor weighs them and decides how to bet.

But even so—I think condos are a better bet in the short-to-medium term. 

No one mentioned this yet and I'd bet that many have not rolled the seams.

You could potentially make a double digit return on your money secured with a lien against the property.  

Housing, mobile home parks, self storage and industrial are good bets moving forward but you definitely want to steer clear of office and retail REITS 

I am able to focus on delivering on my committments to my investors.My hold time is 3-5 years for apartments and 5-7 years for hotels.Also, when I refinance, my investors retain their 30-50% equity ownership.My investors are quite happy with the fact that they get double digit returns with the above structure and I've never lost money for my investors even through the Great Recession of 2008-2009.16% project IRR to me is marginal.

Times were different when I was pre-18 but I remember getting a credit card at 14 without my parents having any idea, no clue how it worked out but I bet I wouldn't have been able to swing it today!