The settlement payout is significant - if we could get a reasonable price for the damaged house, it would be a better solution...thoughts?

Which, should bolster your attempt to get it treated as a portfolio loan.When selling to one buyer with one contract and settlement statement, it is easy to classify it as one sale for a 1031 exchange. 

For mortgage rates, steady Fed messaging helps keep volatility down, which is positive for pricing—even if big rate drops take time.WEEKLY INTEREST RATE SNAPSHOT *National average rates are provided by Bankrate.com and Bloomberg Professional as of 1/26/2026 and are not advertised rates from Rate, Inc.Addison, Allen, Anna, Azle, Batch Springs, Bedford, Benbrook, Burleson, Cedar Hill, Celina, Cleburne, Colleyville, Coppell, Corinth, Crowley, DeSoto, Duncanville, Ennis, Euless, Farmers Branch, Fate, Flower Mound, Forest Hill, Forney, Glenn Heights, Grapevine, Greenville, Haltom City, Highland Village, Hurst, Keller, Lancaster, Little Elm, Mansfield, Midlothian, Mineral Wells, Murphy, North Richland Hills, Prosper, Red Oak, Rockwall, Rowlett, Royse City, Sachse, Saginaw, Seagoville, Southlake, Terrell, The Colony, Trophy Club, University Park, Watauga, Waxahachie, Weatherford, White Settlement, Wylie, Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Irving, Garland, Grand Prairie, McKinney, Frisco, Mesquite, Carrollton, Denton, Richardson, Lewisville, or Arlington

I recently won a settlement and have $50,000 cash.

That framework is less draconian than IRA treatment.Where I’d just add caution is that “less draconian” doesn’t mean low risk.

If funds are blended across both properties with no clear separation, that can create confusion.One practical approach is to structure the purchase so that your primary residence is clearly defined in the contract, settlement statement, and loan documents.

It’s filed in order to extract a “nuisance” settlement from the defendant.  

Structured courses can offer a comprehensive framework and ensure you cover all essential topics, while networking and hands-on experience allow you to apply what you've learned and gain insights from real-world scenarios.Additionally, don't hesitate to reach out to mentors within the community who can offer guidance based on their personal journeys in real estate.

The first one gives you the defensible framework, the second saves money.

I’m currently evaluating a few local property management companies, and your list of questions gives me a solid framework to compare them in a structured way.I especially appreciate the emphasis on understanding the full scope of services, communication expectations, and how they handle maintenance and tenant screening.