Back and forth I missed another deadline.

The question is whether you can identify and acquire (close) on one or more replacement properties within the required deadlines.The Reverse 1031 Exchange has no upfront deadline, so that the investor can take all the time they want to locate and acquire their replacement properties, and then they have 180 calendar days to sell (and close) on their relinquished properties.

Any insight into the first steps I should begin to outline for myself over the next year, or deadlines I should make for myself?

Do they return calls/emails quickly.Do they hit deadlines?

I'm kind of giving myself a 1 year deadline to know as much as I can before jumping in.

And is there a deadline or any sort of timeframe when you have to pay him back by?

No contract, deadline, or guidelines were established.

However, the tenants in one of the units have not paid rent for the last two months and the current owner has served an eviction notice prior to the transaction with a move-out deadline in three weeks.  

Was wondering how the process has gone for you trying to beat that sheriff sale deadline.  

Good preparation, complete and accurate bidding, meeting deadlines and solid quality controls speak volumes.