That’s a tough one in my opinion.

In my humble opinion, if you want low, competitive rates, fast closings and great service, work with a broker.I'm also an investor and have been on the other side of the table. 

In my opinion they are both good, but not great.

I am just saying what i have done not necessarily that would fit your needs and certainly as a Anderson client you can get their opinion, book a consultation or  ask your question on tax-tuesday  webinars. 

In my opinion that is rarely necessary for a rental rehab unless perhaps this will be a really nice rental in an upscale area.

In my opinion, the best "first step" is to find a local REIA to attend. 

I am no expert by any means but I thought I would drop my opinion here. 1) Should I focus on duplex since they're most likely less expensive in my area in category A or B properties, or aim for more units?

If security and consistent cash flow matter most, paying off the STR could provide a strong foundation.Just some things to think about based on my opinion. 

This entire conversation in my opinion comes into play for a group or entity that may have 50-100 STR's where the branding will matter more but to be honest from what we have seen when they get that large they usually have lack luster service and subpar reviews- in the end someone that is 1031'ing mostly cares about that cash flow at that level and that's why and mostly only why they care about buying a brand. 1-15 units and a brand is nice but in my opinion wont break a deal- we are trying to do it but in the end its more for our guests to have a simple streamlined way to book with us.

Here’s our OPINION for the Metro Detroit market (use as a template for your target area!)