This would allow you to sell a property you had purchased with the intent of holding for productive investment use. 

Gradually raising rents, exploring lease buyouts, or selling with tenants in place are balanced alternatives.

As already mentioned, you could sell via seller financing to lower AGI, as all you would have to claim is the payment income - until balloon payment received.Did know an investor that had 14 properties paid off and he moved into one every two years to then sell with the $250k single exemption.

So I have a house I am going to be selling in a couple weeks, but I’m confused about what the agents are saying.  

While I am normally in the do-not-sell camp, in this case it might just sell and buy at the new location.

You must must disclose to the seller everything including that you are selling it to someone else and how much money you are selling it to that end buyer.

The brokerage doesn't matter as much unless you are selling off market and they can share within their office.

I guarantee you don't have the right to "sell" that property as you've done because the bank has a lien against that deed which must be paid if/when you sell, and you almost guaranteed to have language that you are supposed to notify the mortgagor if/when you sell the property so that they can exercise their due on sale clause. 

Things selling a little slower here lately 

Because EVERYONE wants to sell their house fast.People who list on the MLS want to sell their house fast, people that want to sell their house FSBO, want to sell their house fast.