Valuing your time and understanding your limits and skills will make a big difference in the equity you build, the quality of the work and your sanity. 

You can probably find some around DFW in some of the outer cities for around $250,000, so 1031 the ones with the most equity into more properties with chances for more appreciation.One thing I would suggest is not to buy NEW from the big production builders. 

Not sure if this is the correct place to post this.  I have the opportunity to help a family member be part of a joint venture with them putting the down payment down.  They aren’t able to get a mortgage themselves so...

In-person interactions are great for building trust with potential investors.Real Estate Platforms:BiggerPockets: A robust platform for connecting with private lenders and investors.Fund That Flip, PeerStreet, Groundfloor: Online platforms connecting investors with real estate projects.Social Media Groups: Facebook and LinkedIn groups dedicated to real estate investing often have private investors or lenders looking to connect.Personal Network: Often overlooked, but friends, family, and colleagues may know individuals interested in investing.Private Money Brokers: If you're working on wholesaling deals, you may find brokers who have established relationships with private money lenders.Real Estate Agents: Some agents have connections with private investors, especially those focused on investment properties.For your 50% LTV, it's good to approach investors who may be interested in lower-risk, high-equity deals.

I think it is fair to say that there is somewhat of a tradeoff between markets that provide positive cash flow on day one and relatively high appreciation-based markets.

Congrats on your success so far.Some random thoughts for you:- It might be difficult to tap the equity in the rental at this time given the current state of interest rates. 

It can be a positive for short term rentals (if in a good area) to be near the airport.

The money borrowed from your equity comes with interest, then you have the new mortgage with interest.

Additionally, the price point is still cheap enough to find the 1% rule and positive cash flow and there's amazing appreciation potential! 

Try to be positive and understanding since there were lots of factors that led to delays.