@Mark Herrmann, It's all the moving parts you've rightly identified. 

Nice job identifying the opportunity and taking action!

Either of these methods works, you just need to keep time to market in mind as you make this decision for yourself.You have identified your site, now you want to check the zoning:1.

What are your top prequalification questions to identify a motivated seller.And what tips,tricks, format do you follow when running appointments?  

We are just getting started but have identified potential properties. 

The basics of 1031 are that you can identify 'up to 3 replacement properties in the immediate 45 days following COE on your relinquished property'.

(You can’t use your existing accountant or attorney since they are supposed to be independent and not presumed to be under your control since the real purpose of the 1031 exchange agent/intermediary is to keep you from touching your money during the exchange.)Before you finish the sale of the first property (the “relinquished property”) you let the closing agent know you’re doing a 1031 exchange and give them the contact info for your exchange intermediary, then the closing agent sends the money you would normally have gotten to the exchange intermediary instead.At that point you have 45 days from that first closing to both identify up to 3 potential new properties, one of which (the “replacement property”) you have 180 days to actually close on.

You might even be able to find something that is nearly 'rent-able' right out of the gate.In looking for this type of house, I'd be actively identifying low risk 'other' value add projects that you can take on and actively manage, even doing so on weekends/nights, etc. 

I’ve since been out of recruiting but my good friend is in and is aware of where some of these 5 to 10 year contracts where they need a few thousand people are all around the country.I’m curious if anyone has had a strategy where they identify these contract hubs, and then invest in places for contractors ( who often get monthly or daily per diem for rent) and if you’ve found it to be a good strategy?

First since the trust is doing the exchange you and your brother would have to stay together and not each go your own separate direction.Secondly, the limits are not on the number you purchase but in how they're identified.