In your case, you are probably better off buying a break-even deal in Tampa then a deal with $200 cash flow OOS.

Then, if you can trend over time you'll want to see where the "path of progress" is going/moving and attempt to buy in that path of progress to gain some appreciation in the future.

Quote from @Rachel Vann: Investment Info:Other buy & hold investment.

A 1031 exchange is for selling an investment property then buying another investment property. 

.: As a contractor and flipper, I dont buy materials from retailers or online.

Hello everyone, I am reaching out to the BP Community for suggestions.My Portfolio100% owner of 7 SFH PropertiesGP in about 30 SFH properties(of which I own somewhere between 25% to 50%)All but two properties are managed by a PM CompanyNet worth of the above is about $2,000,000 - $2,500,000My IssuesI have many SFH's - Which take up time(Currently spending time paying property tax and insurance, requesting quotes on insurance policies and overseeing the PM Company(approve rent increases, approve renovation projects, etc).They also take up head-space(having to remember property addresses, remembering when property taxes are due)(I have reminders/systems but something I would like to reduce)Goals1) Spend less time on Real Estate2) Free up head-space2) Make $240,000 annually from real estate(Which I think is not to hard if I can increase my net worth and can get an 8% return)Possible Solutions1) Sell all the SFH's and buy 4-Unit Properties to take advantage of conventional financing2) Sell all the SFH's and buy one large apartment complex3) Sell al the SFH's and invest in syndications4) Sell all the SFH's and purchase stock / bonds5) Continue to hold all the SFH's6) Any other suggestionsOther Considations1) Should I consider private notes?

I am not sure if I would make the same decision today.However, if you think you can purchase real estate and have a SIGNIFICANT delta as an investment, I would not cash out the 401k now to buy real estate. 

Quote from @Alex Spivey: I want to start renting as soon as I can so does anyone have adviceYou want to find a place to rent and occupy, or you want to buy an investment that you can rent to others?

Not following this - what does your buddies property have anything to do with a property you are buying?  

@Derick JenningsRecommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?