Create a simple spreadsheet or written list to compare the features of each and identify the ones that align with your requirements.

Competition creates a healthy financial environment and the US will do what it does well circle back around and create a back door and establish new vendors to buy/sell.

My grandmother has an 8 plex that she wants to sell within the next few years.

Do you get the value of it back if you sell or does it increase the potential rental income?

So, you will want to live in the primary due to the fact that you are getting that 250K or 500K tax savings when selling. 

@Sam Parr the major impact that we were seeing was a huge drop in new listings, and many properties were being withdrawn from the MLS because sellers didn't want to seem desperate to sell in a time like that.However, this is rapidly changing and we're already seeing a strong return to the previous market as everybody who was waiting to sell or buy is flooding back into the market.

Based on the conversation my realtor had with the seller's agent, the family selling the home is humanitarian in nature and would like to "help a family."

So, you want to lock things up that are on the open market that anyone can buy, then sell them to someone else who could have bought the same property on the market, at a higher price than you paid for it?

The lender I spoke with in the new area said our DTI is the biggest issue, and that selling one of the properties would solve that problem, but selling one house hack for another of a similar price/cash flow isn't something I want to do.Still fairly new to REI so any and all advise is greatly appreciated.

Only taking action if the deal has fat projections, meaning the seller has lost his mind and wants to sell for a ridiculously low price.