However, given how the market has been, almost everything I'm seeing is trading at retail or above. 

I am a firefighter paramedic by trade and finance and investment is all new to me.

There is that exception that you might find a team that accepts you on a small and I mean very small part but for your $100k trade off, might not be worth it. 

The first hurdle for a 1031 is that it must be for trade or business or investment purposes.

I am thinking of trading it in for a $15K-20K car to put some cash in my pocket to start investing in real estate. 

.- 8/18 - my roommate and I apply for the apartment on Zillow using their system which does a background check and credit check - we both have no issue whatsoever (both have very good credit and great incomes).- 8/19 - The landlord sends me the lease. 

Seller has to pay now for deferred maintenance in the form of a credit for decisions they made while owning the asset.Multifamily can be good but trading at crazy low cap rates.

I've watched, read, podcasted, and dreamed REI for years and am becoming familiar with much of it in theory -and in a previous life I spent several years working in the trades building spec to Street of Dreams homes in and around PDX- but as I prepare to finally take action I'm feeling the doubt, exposure, and butterflies more then I expected...

I know a little bit about everything and am highly skilled in the carpentry / framing aspects of the trade.

However, that comes at a trade-off of hassle and money.