My diet went from dining out to consistent beans and lentils.

Deep in my heart I know this is the right move.

However, I'm starting to get a 'change of heart'. I

Because as you said, the 1031 at its heart is used to sell and then buy new investment real estate. 

This quitting W2 to survive on REI reminds me of the FIRE movement or Paleo diet.

We stopped in last 2021 to allow for a pause / stabilization and are now doing some build-to-rent.I feel this is, now, a harder market to get great cashflow, but we have seen good appreciation and good rent growth, so eventually more cashflow will come.Happy to meet up for a Diet Coke and chat. 

Yes you should easily shed a good portion of it but to shed all of it will be a lot harder and needs diet and exercise (not just one)This is evident also by the latest treasury bond sales - other countries are slowing down buying our debt which means rates (especially mortgage rates (will stay higher longer).

I cleaned up my diet.

Well, since it seems like this thread has gone a bit cold.Let's see if we can "re-ignite" the fire and get some comments 🤷‍♂️My heart is worn on my sleeve and I got nothing to hide.When we make a mistake, it's an honest mistake and we always do our best to rectify.Never hiding or running away from problems.We have been in the business since 2014 and are still here, chipping away through ups and downs.We have stood the test of time and that speaks for itself.How many other providers can say the same?

Yeah truth is my heart is not really in real estate more so in stocks/options etc.