It has worked out that way when the seller has allowed me to design and rehab. 

The local who lives there but commutes 30-60 min to another community because they can’t find a job to support their family in their town.That same local knows that a 4plex would be great on that lot that’s been vacant for 20 years and that there are at least 4 families who could benefit greatly from that development.That local knows that Ryan’s plumbing and Katie’s electrical companies that service 75% of the town really needs a new flex space to use as a shop, storage, and parking for their business so that they aren’t working out of their garage and can hire a couple of locals to work with them at the office and in the field.Development is different in our small towns but if locals aren’t the ones doing it, and developers aren’t coming, what happens to our kids futures?

Either you learn to be good at it, or partner(your business partner, not someone who works on commission/salary/fees) with someone who is good at it. 

It is the cost of doing business.

I was recently let go so I decided to start my own business.

Therefore, you don't need to use a 1031 exchange; you can take as long as you wish to find and then buy another property.The only exception is if there is debt on a property, in which case there will be some UBIT (Unrelated Business Income Tax) implications.

Option A would allow me to keep it as a long term rental .

I still read a ton of business and real estate books going on 5 years doing this.

My business partner and I actually own a portfolio of STR's in the area, so if you wanted some insight on that business I'm happy to share as well!

It would seem that turning a real estate training program into a successful business is very difficult because most of them are not around any more.