I find that well meaning comparisons of real estate to stock market returns vary based on personal experience more than careful analysis. Just as stock market investors can have wide variance in return, so do real estate investors.
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​​​​​​I've run into very few naysayers who have made >$1 million in real estate. The answer isn't to walk away from rental property because you had or heard about a poor experience. Find someone making bank in a way that suits you and mimic what they are doing. SFH are a convenient entry point into rental property, but there are multiple other options with different time and capital requirements. You can find one that works for you and adapt along the way. I've gone from personally rehabbing SFH, to directing a team of experts. The latter takes less time and pays far better, but takes time to establish. My wife and I have been paid market rate salaies from our real estate company to account for the time and the returns after wages still CRUSH our 401k returns. It's all in how you run it.