., In exchange for your input and thoughts I'd like to offer some info that is hopefully new to you both and can contribute to your lead generation efforts?

. - The exchange rate is bad for Canadians which some people point out if you repatriate the income from US it will be gobbled up by the FX people here in Canada and may benefit CRA and IRS which im also trying to sort out how. 

Such a house will probably rent for $1800, so if I put all the equity into such an exchange I'd end up with a cash flow of ~$100/mo, and about 450 to principal.  

If I accept money today, one time cash payment, from a tenant as an option for that tenant to purchase a house from me at some future date, does accepting the option payment jeopardize my ability to sell the house to the tenant using a 1031 Exchange?

I can bring value to you in some way in exchange for your knowledge/direction/friendship.I look forward to engaging this community and meeting good, hungry people.Thanks a lot for reading!

Would it be possible to exchange a property worth 125k with no debt, for a property worth 950k with 825k mortgage?

I view money being the medium of exchange and wirelessly interconnected all across the vast continents due to the fact that it is made up of air, hence, air bubbles can pop up.

Yes, But the structure of the exchange needs to be such that it is an improvement exchange for the property to which you plan to utilize the hundred thousand for repairs.  

We're about to sell our first property and move on to something with better cashflow and I'm considering whether to just pay the taxes or protect the equity with a 1031 exchange.  

It explains that when trading in your 4 green houses for a red hotel - you are doing a 1031 exchange.