I purchased them with my company name & rehabbed them to find out that they both have a Morgage lien tied into it that i was not aware of.

I also need information about reliable companies that can be used as a third-party for the exchange.

@Mark Cruse and @Nathan Gesner are right on track, as usual....People are all too happy to rain on your parade, especially when they have failed themselves....misery loves company...It's kinda like verifying that they couldn't make it and therefore no one can.

Has been a huge headache for the bank and insurance company.

As someone else mentioned there will also be additional expenses when you bring on a property management company.

I'd appreciate recommendations on reputable hard money lenders, especially those familiar with assisting newcomers.

moving it to an LLC will not do much for you in the way of asset protection OR taxes (double check that with a cpa, everyone's tax picture is different). most people lean towards the LLC thing for legal protection, but a single-member LLC is a thin veil that's easily pierced. you'd be paying LLC fees & paying another LLC tax return prep fee, for what i'd say is nothing. if you do want to transfer the deed to an LLC anyway, you'd do a 'quit claim deed' with a title company or real estate attorney. if the mortgage lender ever says something you'll just give them proof that it's a single-member LLC and the one member is you (the original borrower). 

You have seen it for 3 years in your daily lives, when you go to the store, or buy a used car, try to buy a home, order parts for your widget company etc…So in summary, prices are here to stay and we need more homes to be built, likely catalyzed by proper incentives / less onerous regulation.

We need to secure loans/mortgages externally in order to get started so wondering if we should start a company/partnership or if it’s best to do this as individuals.

Is there any way to avoid capital gains on selling company stock?