With respect to AJ, he is a good friend of mine and I highly recommend him too.

Hey @Nick Gallon Martin, I recommend speaking to a Tax Planner/CPA, @Jeff Nash would be a great resource for you.

For starters, I recommend to begin with a single family home or if you are looking to start locally, do house hacking. 

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Just remember anyone who has acted as your employee, attorney, accountant, investment banker or broker, or real estate agent or broker within the 2-year period ending on the date of the transfer of the first of the relinquished properties is considered your agent and is disqualified from being your QI.So definitely ask them for recommendations but they cannot act as your QI on the exchange. 

—it’s also about reliability, attention to detail, and someone who just “gets” your space and your guests’ expectations.Do you have any hidden gems, local recommendations, or tips to share?

Or what courses do you recommend?

Quote from @Brandon Croucier: Hi Kathy, at the end of the day the mortgage industry is so vast & wide it's essentially like trying to navigate the Sahara Desert.I highly recommend working with an experienced mortgage broker who knows the ins and outs of the industry to place you into the most competitive product for you.More times than not, people save money working with a small shop broker.Kathy,I wanted to revisit this to offer a a tad bit more and Brandon above is correct.

The best way to get through the door with subs is a recommendation/connection from someone they respect.

Any recommendations/suggestions?