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

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.

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.

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?

While they tend to offer lower returns than stocks or real estate, they provide stability and consistent income.Another potential avenue is health savings accounts (HSAs), which offer a triple tax benefit—contributions are tax-deductible, earnings grow tax-free, and withdrawals are tax-free if used for qualified medical expenses.

You need professional help.   

Look at property values, trends, and neighborhoods to identify opportunities.5) Create a Budget: Determine how much you can invest, considering all associated costs like down payments, closing costs, and maintenance.6) Build a Network: Connect with real estate agents, investors, lenders, and other professionals.

Readers are advised to seek professional advice.