Great point to hire someone that is experienced in the industry otherwise you are just paying for data entry. 

However, if you go to the meetups, you can usually spot some of the 1% :)PS: Do note that just as you would vet a good investor agent, that same investor agent will probably want to also vet you and make sure that you are a serious buyer and not some random guy that is trying his luck at the "get rich quick" real estate scheme.

I was with a large brokerage at first, but recently switched to a smaller company so that I can learn the ropes of the industry.  

Immediately after buying Prop B you do a refi or 2nd mortgage on it and take the cash out to pay yourself back for the expenses incurred in improving prop A.The second way would be to tap equity on Prop A to improve it and then sell it have the new debt paid off as a mortgage lien upon sale and then complete the purchase of prop B in the 1031.Industry preference is that new debt is taken after the completion of the 1031 so there is no way the service could construe that you took out the debt as a way to access profit outside the exchange.  

remove carpet and refinish sub floor, replace countertops, add kitchen appliances, move a wall to make space for a proper staircase, add a parking spot, replace oil tank if it isn't already a deal killer.Exit: hold as rental long term, sell on a lease optionAny thoughts would be much appreciated.Thanks

But, I am in a tough spot.

@John Thedford  what @Lian Shi  is attempting to do is to get a second loan from a private lender.. the new term that many use in the industry is a GAP lender. 

Honestly finding this website/community, reading the blogs, and reading the books gave me everything I needed to jump full force into this industry.

It's a hot spot for student rental. .25 miles from university but in a residential area.  

Is there a good community on this site of investors that do office, retail & industrial investments?