He uses a two year time frame as a goal, but many times he held properties for much longer.A better criteria for trade up time might be when substantial value had been added to property A, he would then be ready to roll that value into property B.Example: (I'm changing the numbers to today's dollars so they won't distract too much).

In other words, go with what you think is the better investment and don't let the tax implications  distract you. 

I really want to make a move but just deciding how and which one to take is a challenge...getting distracted by all the pretty objects...lol.

It's so easy to get distracted and move away from your original goals that you will never do a deal.

This way, you won’t get distracted or overwhelmed.

Sometimes its easy to get distracted by the big and shiny objects.  

(Wolf Tip: A buyer has to have something to distract them from the real issues of the house so freshly paint the first room you enter in the house.)The sheep investor, who may have never visited the property until it was in chaos, dumps the property for whatever they can get and chalks it up to a valuable learning lesson.Be the wolf and not the sheep and you can make these types of properties work.

Don't get distracted.

I don't want you to be distracted with brokering a sale (which is a much bigger deal than a single rental).

Obviously, high-maintenance tenants will distract you from your main business