I am in the raleigh north carolina area and was curious to know if there are any highly reputable attorneys and/or agents familiar with short sales.

You may want to consider working with your accountant remotely to expand your options.I would also recommend looking for a tax strategist willing to work with you throughout the year, not just when preparing your tax return.You want an accountant who can help you strategize and who is responsive when you want to know the tax consequences of the financial decisions you are making throughout the year.Good luck.

Have consequences for each of these things, and stick to your policy!

Could anyone recommend a reputable 1031 exchange company?

If you are in competition you have a website.Name one reputable business that doesn't have a website!

This is how new investors ruin their reputations before they even have one. 

The sale should always go through a reputable title company where they handle the funds in an escrow account. 

This can have DISASTROUS consequences for your IRA as the account is deemed immediately disqualified in the year this prohibited transaction occurred.

I started out flipping and then transitioned my business to wholesaling so I can easily close on any transaction if I have to.I don't like the bad reputation that wholesaling has because of people jumping into it with no idea or understanding of best practices, but hopefully, with regulations, we can clean out the bad ones.

Their lack of ethics and competence resulted in significant and avoidable complications that could have been prevented with a more reputable organization.