Pay the tax and hope for offset losses or huge gains on the index fund.If you're just tired of being a landlord and owning fixed asset real estate there are passive options that might work for you and are 1031 compliant so they would shelter the tax.

Until you are prepared to turn it from a liability to a asset by moving out you are still not yet in the world of investor. 

I have been a active Real Estate Agent in the Jacksonville, FL area for the past 2 years, i'm also a veteran that served in the U.S Navy for ten years. i am a young motivated and hungry individual who wants to learn as much as possible about Real Estate Investing. i'm eared to get involved with investing in real estate to obtain financial freedom so that i'm able to provide my family and myself a joyful and fulfilled life.so till next time everyone thanks, have a great day and happy investing.R/Kenneth

While there is a physical asset and a real estate transaction, you are really buying a rate of return that you want to meet or exceed on a consistent basis.

Is it possible to obtain a policy that will rachet down once we complete the work, or provide a short term exemption if we escrow the funds to replace the panels immediately?

You have some great goals and they are very obtainable.

  ;) Let your asset grow. 

@Brian Reynolds,If your TSP is with the past employer - you should be able to roll it over into self-directed IRA and then invest in alternative assets such as real estate. 

It's having the mentality using leverage to increase the income, which will than accelerate the debt payoff of income producing assets all the more faster.

I'd like to start by creatively obtaining a property with a small initial investment, so any advice would be appreciated!!