Personally, I would start with one LLC. 

So I'm looking to get started in real estate investing and I came across this group.i was wondering if anyone knew anything bout them and what they had to say.Seemed to me that no one who was involved with this group was really willing to let me be a part of anything until I paid for the expensive program they were offering.

Move to an area with higher population (with hopefully more opportunities)  buy a house and start my business with say, $60k-$80k less. 

Alrighty, lots of info coming, once I start I can't be stopped!

And you've started at a great place here in these forums.From the 1031 perspective, however, there isn't any difference at all. 

Once interest rates start going down the amount you would get for that annuity is also going to start going down.

obviously 150 doors on conventional loans for each would murder you so I assume that is the case and the 8 doors listed are just examples. at 150 doors you need to start talking to fund managers or heavy hitters in the multifamily space.

I would love to connect with people in the area to get conversations started and build connections.

I just started to look at HELOC's, and don't think it'll be worth it to refinance because my low interest rate.

We have discussed selling the property and rolling it into a multi-family but again feel like we may be trading a fairly hands off property with good cash flow for one that may be a bit more labor intensive and only yield marginally better performance.Any advice on how to expand our rental portfolio/maximize its performance is greatly appreciated!