I have some of my money in that account invested but on my idle cash position I am currently getting 4.28% APR. 

First of all both positions would most likely want to be first position lien (which means if you got foreclosed upon who gets paid first.) 

Starting with a property that is either new construction or turnkey that offers positive cash flow is a smart strategy.Feel free to reach out if you have more questions!

Are there specific resources or strategies you recommend for someone in my position?

His employer gave him a great reference and indicated that the position is permanent and stable.

Hey Jacob,Congrats on building equity in both properties—it sounds like you're in a great position to leverage your assets for future investments!

The best way to position yourself for a successful 1031 exchange is to be as proactive as you can when finding your replacement property.

It's important to make sure you work with a reputable one that multiple people have had positive experiences with.

It also depends on the situation sometimes a HELOC is warranted for short term financial needs so long as you have a plan to get back in the same or better financial position afterwards and the "means," and "will," to carry out this financial or mortgage plan- HELOC's are typically full documentation qualifying loans so you'll need actual income to qualify whether it be from pension, insurance, rental's, etc that are all fully documented on taxes, W2's, 1099 forms, etc.

thank you all for the positive welcoming!