It is more of a (right sizing) of existing medium to larger box size tenants expanding their online footprint to maximize omni-channel marketing to get the right optimal business ratio to drive sales and profit margins.    

.- number of units (in the case of MF)- location of real estateThe investor has to decide what mix is optimal for their situation.If Series-LLC is an option for you, get one and put each property in its own child Series-LLC, problem solved.

@Angela Miller - This area has many properties that come up regularly but as @Ronald Starusnak mentioned, most need updating/rehab to be optimal rentals for the area. 

My intent is all long term but systematic exit to optimize portfolio. 1) Less then 12 months ... short terms (maximize opex)2) More then 12 months ... long terms (maximize opex)3) More then 9 months. .. 1031 as portfolio optimization 4) Opportunity zone using any gain from previous 180 days (looks like this is what you are asking)The whole world can talk about benefits of buying/investing is Qualified Opportunity zone but as of now not sure i have seen anyone yet (again my world is tiny ) who could give direction on beyond filing Form 8996  such as below1) How to create /maintain QOF  2) How to manage cash within QOF for rehab/purchase 3) How to brings investors in/out of QOF ..

So, before I address all of the points I read in this thread, can we agree on the following:- All properties in a given neighborhood will all have different market values,- The simplification of those values could be placed into the following three (3) categories;   * AS-IS (No deferred maintenance has been addressed AND curb-appeal is seriously lacking)   * Enhanced (all deferred maintenance has been addressed and some newer "creature comforts" installed)   * Optimal (highest priced, highest and best use dwelling in the neighborhood)If you agree to these simplified characterization, then the following might be agreeable: @Randy Thomason - [Good and Bad Wholesaler, Double Closings]There are good and bad wholesalers, just like there are good and bad real estate agents and brokers.

The optimal thing would be to have a tenant move in the day after repairs are done, limiting vacancy costs. 

Nicely put, @John Barrett , the optimal balance between cash, equity, leverage, and cash flow is an elusive target that probably changes by the minute in today's world of unlimited information. 

Any creative ideas on ways to optimize this or alternate ways we could allow the upstairs tenant to regulate their heat? 

From a purely financial perspective, the optimal solution would be to leave the mortgage in place and simply use the windfall for investment purposes.

Part of getting into REI is so that we can spend more of our time together rather than spending more than half our day at other jobs and commuting, getting to work together is a big part of why we want to take this on (and the potential that RE Investing has for financial freedom).My Concerns: I originally thought I would develop myself as a contractor and do most of the work myself at first, but when I consider the time constraints (holding a house way longer to do the work myself, and the quality of work suffering) I realize this isn't an optimal plan.