I think there's a path to refinance that would flip me into positive cash flow, but I'm coming up short on ideas. 

Is there some reason that you or the company simply don't discuss what happened and use this as an opportunity to turn a negative post into a positive one for the company?  

Here is one piece of advice When looking at areas to invest in check out this website https://www.areavibes.com/ its pretty cool it gives you a total livability score and rating for that areaBest of luck!

that we’ve learned in our 24 years, managing almost 700 doors across the Metro Detroit area, including almost 100 S8 leases:Class A Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% the more recent norm.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 680+ (roughly 5% probability of default), zero evictions in last 7 years.Class B Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, decent amount of relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% should be applied only if proper research done to support.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 620-680 (around 10% probability of default), some blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 5 yearsClass C Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, high cashflow and at the lower end of relative rent & value appreciation.

Positive Home Value Growth ForecastWhile the pace of home value appreciation is expected to moderate, Zillow forecasts a 2.8% increase in Buffalo’s home values for 2025, indicating continued market strength.In summary, Buffalo’s combination of strong job growth, relative affordability, limited housing inventory, strategic location, and positive home value forecasts solidify its status as the nation’s hottest housing market for 2025.

The 1031 positions the investor into a property that the REIT absorbs as @Joe Sera said in the 721 conversion. 

I don't know if they still do it but if memory serves a few years ago TD Bank would do a HELOC on a rental in second position but only if it was titled in someone's personal name. 

The process for commercial properties is basically the same as residential properties, so it takes work.Again, echoing Dominic, a good investment is a good investment, whether you spent 8 months courting an owner to get them to sell to you, or whether it is on CBRE/Cushman/Marcus/Loopnet or any other brokerage website.  

Wondering if anyone has had positive experiences. 

I'm currently using a website that I created 4 years ago, posting vacancies by creating a page and cross linking it to a form in my website for applications.