The key is to work with a reputable QI who is experienced in handling 1031 exchanges.

The Milwaukee REIA https://www.milwaukeereia.com/ and the Rental Property Association of Wisconsin https://rpawi.org/ are both great for connecting with experienced investors, lenders, and property managers.

You might want to do an online search for brokerages in your area that offer larger commission splits or a flat fee to their agents. 

@Matt Wan Many lenders require wet signatures on at least the Promissory Note but if yours does not, as a US citizen you could do the entire signing anywhere on the planet with a good internet connection + mic + camera via Remote Online Notarization (RON) for less than $200.If wet signatures are required, the answer then depends upon what foreign country you are in.

Rehab contractor charged $10K, the online report says $16K.

Loan officers with 25 years of experience typically are more experienced, and have less time per file, because they have an abundance of files.Loan officers with 25 months of experience typically are less experienced, but have more time to devote to you.I can't write my own loans, so when I'm getting a loan I prefer working with less busy people when I'm doing my own real estate investment, they're more responsive and dedicated it feels like.

Therefore, if you look at history, real estate has continuously performed in an upwards fashion while, like any other investment, has experienced short lived corrections from time to time.

Since I am new to the town, I wanted to seek advice from experienced investors out there.

These types of properties require experienced management to navigate the challenges effectively.

I haven't seen much said about them but I'm satisfied with what I've experienced.. they've made me money and I collect rent every month.