Message them and offer to take them out to lunch/coffee in exchange for the conversation.

Mainly I am thinking about if I should risk using 1031 exchange funds from the sale of one of my SFHs for a down payment or if I should wait until I have cash.

If they do, then to close on time you and the seller are very quickly going to have to agree to whatever the lender wants in exchange for being willing to doing an escrow holdback at all, which fancy language aside is basically ransom money in an amount greater than the estimated completion cost, to be released once it's complete (ransoms only work if the thing held ransom is worth more than the thing you want).

There is quite a few in the bad neighborhoods but I really don't think the high vacany/turnover in exchange for a cheap price is a good trade.Thanks so much for your ideas and input.

The biggest question still up in the air is: Do you have to hold a single property in an OZ via an Opportunity Fund for 10 years to receive 100% deferred capital gains on appreciation, OR can you essentially 1031 exchange every 2-3 years across multiple opportunity zones and still get the 100% deferred capital gains.

Feel free to reach out and we can exchange phone numbers.

Do taxes for new construction in regards to 1031 exchanges and the 2 year rule, start when the home is completed or when you purchase the lot and begin construction? 

My company is called Investment Property Loan Exchange. 

My parents are thinking of buying and adding to their portfolio and I would take the proceeds and 1031 exchanging into some more properties. 

They also do not recognize the 1031 exchange.