I want to see you take that hit and still come out ahead.

You have a lot of control on a deal that you can hit the fund/not fund button.

lol.I think the consensus is to hit Home Depot at 6 am and look for the contractors picking up materials.

I am building a network to provide clients with tools to find properties, hopefully before the hit the MLS as it seems things are often gone before I can get my hands on them. 

If you are doing conventional, then that opens you up to more possibilities..but you wont hit the 1% rule in those areas.

My question for those that have done this or are familiar is what is the better strategy....1) Identify and purchase multiple properties in the 1031 exchange or 2) Purchase the first property in the 1031 and then after the needed seasoning period, do a cash out refinance and then purchase the second property.I am not sure if one strategy is easier or more cost efficient than the other?  

Would it best to start with bandit signs looking for sellers, since that's the most cost efficient way I can think of?

You could also look at some of the few owner financing deals that hit the market.

It's important to realize that if the brown stuff hits the fan, that it will be all that your lawyer, a mediator, or arbitrator will have to work with.

Oct's date is yet to be schedule yet I'll let you know when it hits.