Income taxes- if needed can you use your 2 year primary residence deduction if a taxable event occurs.13.  1031-  if any part of the insurance claim is a taxable event is there some way to do a 1031 with lenient time frame adjustments?  

Is there something in writing indicating that utility companies will notify you if tenant turns off power or they are turned off for non-payment, and time frame they would notify you?    

This may lessen vacancy time frames

I think a good starting point would be looking at the comps in your area (recently renovated or new construction homes) that sold around your desired sale price and in your desired timeframe and taking inspiration from there design choices. 

For $10K and a lower rate I'd be willing to consider delaying...but only if I knew that lender two was solid on closing in a relatively short timeframe.

What is the time frame for everything? 

Probably we should have considered this( closing timeframe). at the time of purchase and looked at properties that would complete before the school season starts. 

We haven’t really felt the effects of it yet but I think that is mainly due to the timeframe it takes for them to process claims and emotions from the devastation.

@Veronique Leroy I would say it is possible if you force equity, hold for a few years and then sell and then average the return of the whole profit over the timeframe of deal.

I would remove debt to a 7-10 year time frame and lower fixed costs, at minimum.