If not feasible, consider increasing rent, reducing purchase price, incorporating future benefits, or targeting multifamily properties.

In other words, if one property requires a major repair, reserves from other properties can help cover the expense, reducing the need for each individual property to have a fully stocked reserve at all times.

For us, we do batch showings instead of individualized showings; it cuts down on labor cost of having constant showings and it actually incentivizes competitions among the "applicants". 

At that point you can either add your own cash to the cash from the 1031 and reduce your new mortgages. 

Pricing for MTRs is just as labor intensive as market research is as of now.

6.125% has P&I of $2625/month.5.75% has a P&I of $2521/monthThis is a $104 benefit.Paying $4400 more towards principle will reduce your payment to $2598, a $27/month savings.Math says buying the rate down has a larger net benefit to you up front, but it will take you 42 months to break even.

Although it does reduce the premium slightly for that particular rating factor, it is not optional on the part of the HOA as an intentional cost saving measure.  

I believe there maybe a few different ways to tap the equity in my 1st rental, but my concern is that if I take out the equity for a new purchase, I'll be reducing the cashflow of my business due to the additional debt repayment.

Use the $25,000 towards reducing the home price, which would decrease my yearly property taxes.2.

Plus it is pretty durable as well.Avoids the seams like LVP and won't be as labor intensive to install.