Sorry I can't be more precise.

You may connect with investors, exchange ideas, and get help through platforms like BiggerPockets, real estate Facebook groups, and LinkedIn groups.Make Connections with Experts: Speak with Houston-based bankers, contractors, property managers, real estate brokers, and other experts in the field.

Looking forward to exchanging ideas and opportunities!

Connect with some local investors doing what you want to do and ask them/pay them/add value to them in exchange for them walking properties with you and giving you an idea of SOW and cost.

@Joseph O'Sullivan, Yeah, the 1031 exchange is completely flexible anywhere in the 50 US states and those territories that @Bill Brandt mentioned. 

DSTs are very simple to 1031 exchange into. 

Let me know if you are interested, and I can send them to you - just send a colleague request (to exchange files need to be colleagues) or your email. 

Later on you could scale up with a 1031 Exchange.

I heard that with a 1031 exchange we would need to replace the entire debt.

the answer i'm giving is based on the assumption that you do not want to / can not float the negative cashflow any longer. and note: even if appreciation / debt paydown / tax benefits strongly outweighed the negative cashflow, most investors wouldn't want to / couldn't float that. so that said, i say SELL. you have just over a million dollars in equity (minus transactional costs when you sell), and you could do a 1031 exchange into a ~4 million dollar CASHFLOWING property. i invest long distance into value-add multifamily on the west side of chicago. gearing up for my next deal right now. in that price range you could easily get a value-add multifamily with potential to cashflow 15k/mo+++ (up to 40k/mo) once it reaches its full potential. it sounds like you're in markets that are probably strong for appreciation and weak for cashflow (with the long term rental strategy). if cashflow is your goal, 1031 into value-add multifamily in a higher-cashflow area. don't let having to pay commissions during the sale stop you. you're already losing so much annually; you have to stop the bleeding at some point. also note that right now, with the way these two properties are losing money, that might negatively affect your borrowing power when you go to buy the family home. feel free to dm me if i can help in any way!