Or, would they appreciate the modern elements in the old frame?

I would say a combined 8% vacancies I use 8 % that seems to be a reasonable number here in New Jersey.

After doing all of these things for the last 18 months the 2 real estate deals I did brought in 10 times more than a year of doing all of that other stuff combined.

That's about 17-18 bucks an hour for everyone combined, so 2 minimum wage workers would hit that mark.

You analyze markets, and then monitor those markets for properties.All those pieces you described, are your tools for executing the deals...and the deals will dictate which tool combination you will use for each property.

the modern 1031 looks exactly like a sell and buy to the realtor and the clients.  

As you get down the road, your LLC will have tax returns and the bank will combine those with your personals.

Then I would live in the house, do the work, rent it out, go back to the van for 6 months, combine that money with the rent, buy another one.

Assuming this is 5 units, $2900 combine rent means $580/mo for a unit.

there is a cram down provision if the value of the property is less than the combined amount of the mortgages.