Some of them even walk off the job, even after they pull permits and are technically responsible for the work.  

Im saying that this is just the reality of how things work in EBR - theyre unlikely to immediately pull the exemption.

Running numbers, networking, and talking to local investors will boost your confidence when it’s time to pull the trigger.

I would be very careful in working with a 1031 Exchange Qualified Intermediary that provides ("sells"0 replacement property solutions as part of their services. 

If you can make me believe your vision makes $, and that your the guy to pull it off, I'm handing you $ in proportion to what my reward can be for it, and how certain I believe you can deliver on it.  

If you cash flow $1K per month for 36 months, and then sell with the ability to pull back your original investment, would you consider that a win?

Was just about ready to pull the trigger on one of the many courses that are offered out there, particularly Pace Morby’s, but after reading several posts full of reactions to the question “should I join and pay for a course?”

There's a few different ways to focus on a lower rate such as with house hacking and making the investment your primary residence, requesting a significant closing credit from the sellers for standard rate buy-downs (which I've had great success with recently), or utilizing lenders who offer short term rate lowering solutions such as 2-1 rate buy downs (again, ideally paid for by the sellers).

I’ve had multiple people contact me and I’m looking for possible solutions.

Simply gifting him half the property now wouldn’t immediately allow him to claim the exclusion without fulfilling this residency requirement, I don't believe.One thought would be to use a HELOC to pull just enough equity out of the current home and use it to buy a smaller home, or at least the down payment.