I began to concentrate on debt reduction rather than more acquisitions.

I recommend you concentrate less on finding a mentor, and more on independently studying and learning all of the factors of the business.Also, if you add value to those around you.

When you have a large enough concentration of properties in one market area then it will become a consideration as to who owns the management function, your 3rd party provider or yourself.

Fighting with the Realtor right now is not going to help you, concentrate on "saving" your $4K.

I'd compare paying cash for the first ones and refinancing vs simply allocated a portion of your 1031 proceeds on each property as new loans.The strategy you're circling around is a sound one - it's all about concentrating debt and equity in separate locations in a diversification exchange. 

If you don't go too far south of Highway 90, the neighborhoods are fairly similar to Leon Valley, just with a higher concentration of rentals and more 20 year old subdivisions.

Welcome @Joseph Walsh   I agree with your strategy  about concentrating in the western suburbs   Hope to see you at a meet up. 

Brake your project down to 10-12 parts and then concentrate on only one part at a time.

I'm concentrating on an area outside of the city where prices are much lower but rents are still fairly high.

These smaller multifamily dwellings are now often referred to as the missing middle.Atlanta's small multifamily, like many cities, are concentrated in the oldest neighborhoods.