Hi guys-We currently identified 3 properties for a 1031 exchange, and they all went under contract with different buyers. 

There are very limited fact patterns in which an S Corp makes sense, but I would never advise an S Corp merely for lending purposes.

I have identified a possible solution that would give me what I need, but I want to see if any of you have any words of wisdom.

You can certainly 1031 from residential to commercial if you conform to time constraints imposed, such as 6 months to identify the replacement.

This will be my first real estate purchase.I'm wondering if there are resources or recommended approaches to identify markets which are the best opportunities for this type of investment?

Not the nasty ones.That being said, the big money is in identifying the nasty ones that could be brought back to life as nice ones with some capital and desire.

Identify the properties with the greatest equity and lowest profit/depreciation recapture. 

(b) The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall identify any and all available Federal funds to provide temporary financial assistance to renters and homeowners who, as a result of the financial hardships caused by COVID-19, are struggling to meet their monthly rental or mortgage obligations.

(b) The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall identify any and all available Federal funds to provide temporary financial assistance to renters and homeowners who, as a result of the financial hardships caused by COVID-19, are struggling to meet their monthly rental or mortgage obligations.

For those not in the know they identified and called out the 08/09 collapse wayyyyy before it ever happened, AND put their $ on it, tens of hundreds of millions.