Set Node Outputs Null Despite Correct Input Object from Postgres Node

So i made a test connecting to the n8n postgresql database to simulate the real data format.

All my tests come back working, the way i described before:

One thing i’m sure of is that trying $json[0] is useless . it becomes only an array when there is an additional levels of keys . this is why at this level you can do e.g. $json[‘realtor_id’]

I stand by my point that it should work this way. something else fishy is going on? Maybe someone else can give some input?