He casually told me he sends out 10,000 pieces of mail every month. . .ten thousand! 

Or sell using the 1031 exchange along with a partial 121 primary residence exemption There is a way you could take advantage of the 121 primary residence exclusion allowing you to take the first $250k of the gain tax free ($500k if married) and qualify for a 1031 exchange.Say you purchase a property as your primary residence (house hack extra rooms for extra income) and lived there for two years while stationed there.

that we’ve learned in our 24 years, managing almost 700 doors across the Metro Detroit area, including almost 100 S8 leases:Class A Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% the more recent norm.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 680+ (roughly 5% probability of default), zero evictions in last 7 years.Class B Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, decent amount of relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% should be applied only if proper research done to support.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 620-680 (around 10% probability of default), some blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 5 yearsClass C Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, high cashflow and at the lower end of relative rent & value appreciation.

4) Finding a rental application to use - you can use Zillow's (but incomplete) many realtors require NTN credit check, background check and rental history.5) Figuring out how to screen applicants ***** This is IMPORTANT!

These start failing after 50+ years, causing lots of backups and problems.

The numbers look solid - you sold for $2.8 million what you bought for $2 million ten years ago.

Criminal history?

I bought my first house 2 years ago for 255k 20% down at 6.375% APR.

Can try to reposition to Class B, but neighborhood may impede these efforts.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, but 15-20% should be used to also cover tenant nonpayment, eviction costs & damages.Tenant Pool: majority will have FICO scores of 560-620 (approaching 22% probability of default), many blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 2 years.

While that's certainly not ideal, my leverage was low to start with and my loan maturities were ten years so I have staying power to sell into a better market.Looking ahead, anything I'd buy would have to cash flow out of the gate in a higher-rate climate.