But I'll pay lower 4 range on exchange for lower closing costs.

If the second floor is also a two bedroom, you may not be able to offer that to them in exchange for the first floor as it sounds like it may be an issue of overcrowding.You did not mention the third floor.

Properties can be traded up with a 1031 exchange.5.

This is basically a kickback to the loan originator of 2% in exchange for getting your loan. 

In exchange I get a stream of income and a slice of equity.

The advantage of depreciation,  other deductions, 1031 exchanges, etc makes it less tax efficient to hold inside a tax deferred retirement account.

How do you find REI in England vs USA, ignoring exchange rates? 

In today's age of feedback learning rather than active learning the actions fit right in, but I would wager that going out, finding those articles, reading the information, seeing the responses, and then interacting intelligently with those people is a more productive form of networking than proof of inaction.

Send me a personal message if you'd like to exchange contact info and work together on learning all we can. 

I don't mean to be rude but if you are struggling with the idea of having someone give you their social in exchange for your property that costs thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars then it may not be for you.