We are upgrading with Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring, this is an appraisal point and they last longer than the standard flooring, The extras windows (free), granite countertops because once again it helps with appraisal but also last a long time and they check a box for renters, and a few layout modifications that i believe add more value and let the units work better given the site layout.

There is no free ride.

Feel free to shoot me a dm whenever you are ready to connect.

Feel free to reach out if you need any advice. 

To expand on what @Michael Plaks stated - yes you most likely can do a 1031, the next question is you should be asking if you should do a 1031.It isn't free to do a 1031 - you don't want to spend $2k in fees to have a temporary deferral of what would have been $4k of tax. 

I want to be free to do what I want in my 40s with my family and guide my children now, not in my 50 or 60s.

Imagine the cash flow I could have if I desired (my cash flow is not great because I extract value regularly and because I prefer my return to be in tax free or tax deferred sources and cash flow you get taxed on yearly).Case Schiller used to (maybe still does) publish a residential market performance ranking since 2000.  

Please check out the book I co-authored called Lend to Live: Earn Hassle-Free Passive Income in Real Estate with Private Money Lending published by BiggerPockets.com/lendtolive.

.), ask tons of questions, and figure out how to hang out with people who are doing what you want to do (add value, work for free, do anything to get that experience.What area of Chicago are you looking to invest in?

We are leaning towards bringing on a hard working administrative assistant to lighten the load and free up more time to focus on more pertinent tasks.This will be our first hire and are wondering what the best way to go about doing so is.