( I know there are certain rules to the 1031 and having 3 separate sales may be a little challenging) Also,  I thought about just refinancing the 3 properties, but the rates are a little high to cashflow well.  

I don’t want to challenge him unless I know 100% for sure I have to.

The challenges you will run into is there is very little delinquent debt in iowa.

They will allow your mortgage payment and any personal debt payments (credit cards, cars, etc) to reach about 45% of your monthly income.Programs vary all over the place so it's best to ask a mortgage broker which programs you qualify for.They like two years on the job, rent paid on time, no liens or judgments, pay stubs, tax returns and so on.FHA has a 3.5% down program plus closing costs.

I personally use US Bank [Big stable bank with Zelle capabilities], Relay [Checking and Savings 3%] and then Quickbooks [high interest rate 5%].

Challenges?

The biggest challenge with any Brrrr project is buying the property at the right price.

Quote from @Bob Stevens:What has been your biggest challenge?

My next step after posting this is to reach out to a few similar hosts for the style of property I am looking to invest in and see how well they do on a personal level.

Find a group or person that can give you both education and mentoring.