For those Real Estate Professionals focused on the transactional side of real estate and (not licensed or experienced with real estate financing) I'm not sure how you are doing it? 

Readers should seek professional advice.

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Readers should seek professional advice.

Great design, professional photographs, great location.Don't get hung up on micromarkets or submarkets.

However dependent upon taxable income you could get away with a pretty low tax bill due to favorable capital gains tax rates.Be sure to work with a qualified intermediary and a tax professional to ensure you comply with all 1031 exchange regulations and to be sure you keep basis correct as all a 1031 does is defer your gain.Happy to help run some numbers or do some basic analysis for you if you would like. 

Readers should seek professional advice.

Until you scale enough units management makes most sense on the smaller scale being handled in that way, however aggressive paydowns can put you in a strong position to utilize free and clear properties for great funding options down the road on larger properties that allow you to scale your portfolio to where professional management makes sense.

Not everyone is a professional investor or contractor background.

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?