You fly in on Thursday, get the family set up, and then spend Friday on a few meetings and confirming your schedule for the following week.

I also see and hear those same "professionals" massively under-quote repair costs, forget to mention important due diligence items that if not checked can be a nightmare for the new buyer/operator, and make ridiculous claims that fly in the face of building codes/basic supply and demand factors/actual operating experience, and the like. 

If they say you need another year to save more $, one more year will fly buy as you shop for duplexes and read Biggerpockets to learn and gain experience. 

I will be flying out end of March and would like to look at several properties. 

I’ve just been told that the owner has plans to fly back from California and make that a rentable space in the next 30 days.

The one thing we do know is that if the client says "No I didn't have any intent of investment" - or "my intent was solely appreciation while i was using it" then the 1031 will not fly if challenged.Spread the word - there's no such thing as a second home. 

I use it when I make an agreement on the fly with a Contractor, a Tenant, etc. 

You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, it is said. 

On a side note, I'll fly out to NC soon, lets meet up if you happen to be near Jacksonville and want to meet and chat RE.

Face to face is still the best way to gut-check your decision, and this is a long-term relationship you're getting into, so make the investment in your investment and just fly out.