I figure carrying a few notes on I/O would allow for stable income and using a few to 1031 can still help me grow.

A loan option you could look into that will potentially preapprove you for more is a DSCR (Debt service coverage ratio) loan, which is based on the rental income of the investment property you are looking to purchase, instead of based on your personal income for a conventional loan.

I was laid off in December and would like to start investing full time (because I don't want to go back to that corporate grind ever again!).

Just because they make enough income doesn't mean their application is perfect.

Duplex tenants are younger/lower income than sfh, so likely worse than my tenants.  

I’m interested in taking what I’ve made into properties that can provide me with passive income and capital appreciation.

One way to do this is by carefully keeping track of all the income and expenses related to your business.

This all depends on your income and risk tolerance.

The house to produce some income, the acreage to sell to a developer some time in the future.

Thanks to the Cost Segregation Study, the property investors accelerated the depreciation that the first year depreciation was approximately $356,000.The use of the accelerated depreciation strategy helps real estate investors to reduce the tax liability immediately which therefore increases their bottom line due to the offsetting of income.