Hoping that some investors may have some advice on how to complete this exchange with deferring all of the capital gains (or at least most of the gains) Is this true, that you must trade up and your exchange property must be higher value. 

Is that true?

I would also say that once you understand different exit strategies, you get better at asking questions to better understand the sellers true motivation to sell.

I am leaning toward rolling over 60-70%  (arbitrary number, no true rhyme or reason to it) and keeping the rest to be prepared for future properties.

@Marc Rice true, what I meant was more that locally if I can get a property stablized with $0 in, I'd more than likely be losing money every month.

I’m trying to redo my floors because they are outdated but the hardwood is in good condition just want to refinish them a different color.

If for some reason there was no number provided on the auditor's website we take the name and put it in true people search or fast people search and it skip traces them.

It’s nice to know that in practice this is true as well with the larger banks.

The cliches are true: perseverance, tell everyone what you're up to, attend reias, meet and greet, etc.Arjan 

But, business is business and you are entitled to keep some of the money for true losses.