I bought 6 unit property in Wildwood,NJ,in November 2024, doing rehab now,  should be done by May 2025I am planning to subdivide 6 unit building to 6 separate condos and sell fall 2026, , if there are any experts in 1031 that can help me?!

I just do not want to take this possibility off the table if it could help us really get moving in terms of number of doors we have rented out (a 2/3/4 door rental is an exponential increase in our cash flow, compared to the single family home we are planning to buy first). 

As for the areas to target, my goal in getting our feet wet as real estate investors--and since we plan to be living in Sac--is to find a property we can live in while renting out one or more units to help cover our housing expenses, which we can then hold and continue to rent out when we move.

I am now working as an engineer in the Twin Cities, but have plans of moving to Austin, TX with my wife to house-hack and work in the more plentiful tech market over there. 

Not that that is a bad thing as some are on lower comp plans but they are at the mercy of all having "overlays" and have to sell their loans.

They may less sensitive to need upgrades/remodeling and avoid moving. 4) get a backup/lowball offer from opendoor, offerpad, etc etc.

The process will be slow, but with patience and smart planning, you can move forward step by step.🔹 Property Tax Relief – If your property is severely damaged, you may qualify for reassessment and potential tax refunds.

Are you planning to rent the entire unit at the 2nd year mark? 

If you plan to scale, I would get one right away on your first property.

Good point, if you have plans to sell in the near future, could be better to wait.