by looking up the lawyer @Craig Curelop recommended I located several real estate attorneys with ratings at avvo ( I don't recall the rules about posting links and such so you will have to use google to get there and select the real estate category)

Rather than going through the RMD process, I'm considering just taking a full distribution of several properties I have in an SDIRA. 

Have also spoken with several contractors swamped with work. 

Its been my experience that many commercial/portfolio lenders like to see someone with a presence in the state in which they do business.I've got several portfolio lenders in Columbia that will do loans in Charleston assuming the borrower has ties to South Carolina.

I personally do not plan to have that much equity in my home for several decades as equity provides little value for me in my day to day life.

For instance, in NY, back then, if I buy health insurance for myself thru the business, I have to extend that to my employees as well, so I do it thru another business that I'm the sole employee.

I don't have  any personal experience, but anecdotal experience from watching properties and signage, if you don't get your SFRs rented by Mid-August, they might be vacant for several months. 

My job is transferable, I have already spoke with several banks and finally found one I like. 

I work with several Portuguese residents and I knew a couple were also landlords so I asked them about this post.

Several of my properties are in areas where leasing isn't an option so that solution doesn't work for me like it did for my above mentioned customers.