@Diana Jing @Edward DawsonThank you for the feedback and discussion.Ed, I'm glad we were able to easily navigate your 1031 exchange and move you into some excellent cash flowing properties to increase your passive income! 

With this said, I would never do this for a rental so this is a rental (tenant moved out) that I plan on selling using a 1031 exchange on soon and the garage floor has lots of cracks and stains so I want to make the floor look nicer.  

So they buy a REIT or some stocks instead..!

He was the person who inspired me to invest in the stock market when I was 15-years old and inspired me to invest in real estate.We have some really bad areas in California, but the laws are more landlord friendly and even the worst tenants are more respectful that what I dealt with in Massachusetts.

Have little bit of cash in stocks.

I can tell, right here, right now, that Austin is the worst major metro to invest in rental housing stock in 2024.

My goal is to reach financial freedom as quick as possible. Which would be done by using the cashflow from RE properties. I am trying to figure out if I should also max out my own personal Roth IRA in the S&P or j...

Literally everyone is a RE coach or some type of finance expert (typically buying stocks/index funds some crypto) and they talk on and on about "contact me about how to be successful and free from your W2 job.

You are providing the seller a convenience1) The deal will not fall through because of financing contingency2) You can close faster than those neeeding financingIn exchange, the seller gives you a reduced price.

You can exchange ideas with your agent and have him work something out with the other side through conversations but once you all agree on a plan you MUST GET IT IN WRITING so everyone is legally bound and your EMD and interest are protected.