You can certainly 1031 from residential to commercial if you conform to time constraints imposed, such as 6 months to identify the replacement.

This will be my first real estate purchase.I'm wondering if there are resources or recommended approaches to identify markets which are the best opportunities for this type of investment?

Not the nasty ones.That being said, the big money is in identifying the nasty ones that could be brought back to life as nice ones with some capital and desire.

Identify the properties with the greatest equity and lowest profit/depreciation recapture. 

(b) The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall identify any and all available Federal funds to provide temporary financial assistance to renters and homeowners who, as a result of the financial hardships caused by COVID-19, are struggling to meet their monthly rental or mortgage obligations.

(b) The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall identify any and all available Federal funds to provide temporary financial assistance to renters and homeowners who, as a result of the financial hardships caused by COVID-19, are struggling to meet their monthly rental or mortgage obligations.

For those not in the know they identified and called out the 08/09 collapse wayyyyy before it ever happened, AND put their $ on it, tens of hundreds of millions. 

@Michael Hrenfirst identify the cash flow market and the neighborhoods to invest in. finding a rental is the next step. that can be done via turknkey providers or a realtor. in both cases, you will have to use a third party property mgt co.just have to be patient to start the RE journey

(b) The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall identify any and all available Federal funds to provide temporary financial assistance to renters and homeowners who, as a result of the financial hardships caused by COVID-19, are struggling to meet their monthly rental or mortgage obligations.

I have been researching in an attempt to identify the county/region in Florida that is ideal for an investment property purchase.