Depending on your buy price it could be an excellent choice for apartments. The R codes for villas haven't changed much but apartments on a double block are a pretty new thing since you last looked. You can do apartments on a single block but a double really raises the bar in terms flexibility...
Do you still have the two side by side properties? They can give you some excitement as possible apartments or villas now.
I think hiatus are normal especially when family is involved.
Have a chat with a mortgage broker and get the lay of the land with what you can do now and look at your...