Therefore, working with a single real estate agent doesn't make much sense as it will limit you to his/her very limited inventory and he/she might have as main objective to sell a property to you take advantage of your lack of knowledge of the market.

Is the level of selling we’re seeing in line with previous administration changes, or does this have to do with federal workers losing their jobs?

The market shifts, and properties take longer to rent or sell?

So you have to sell just before that point. 

For every 1 property that has sold in last 3 months that is a match for my prop and sometimes on the same street, theres about 5 that sell for half the value.

Look at what’s been selling or renting fast in the area and adjust if needed.

But we do not want to sell our current home.

I sell land to homebuilders and commercial developers in southern California. 

Hello,We have "trapped equity" in a long term rental condo and are considering selling it and doing a 1031.

But if you buy the property well, your downside risk is that it is short term rentals don't work, and you can simply sell it for hopefully no less than what you paid.That would be my mindset.