I have researched the top brokerages in major metropolitan areas, and I'm reaching out to them Via email and phone calls.

Do NOT use it for your down payment on the new home.You should also do some research to map out when rents will rise enough to cover the current negative cashflow.

In my research I've found that there are a handful of developers who are spending big money to renovate and rehab the downtown area and that the Scranton School Board is under new leadership, allowing the district to finally exit from its "financial recovery" phase.

It's a whole other thread to get into but do some research on the issues with commercial real estate, Ben Mallah is a recent high-profile additional person to come out publicly on this and who is putting his $ where his mouth is. 

My research guided me to form an LLC to hold the properties during repair/rehab (I am buying properties that need major fixing) and move them to another LLC where I will be collecting rent. 

It definitely escalates the situation though, so I'd research the process and carefully consider the option before embarking on it...but if you pursue that route you can likely escrow Dec 1 rent and I'm sure that will get some attention. 

https://www.zillow.com/research/october-2024-rent-report-345...It's normal for the market to slow down in winter, especially right around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

As someone who is excited about turn key/out of state investing, I am going to continue to do more research and circle back to Morris Invest/Sdira Wealth.

Spend time finding the best company you can in a market you have researched. 

But you are many steps away from this so please do more research on LLCs.