NJ has the highest taxes per capita in the country so high taxes are expected especially in Northern NJ.

If you decide to sell and find an investment property with a greater cash flow potential.A 1031 exchange would allow you to indefinitely all of the tax and use it to your advantage to reinvest into larger nicer property/properties.

I'm wondering if some one can help with an explanation about why a Hotel has many rooms with tax lien on auction? 

My tax professional is stating that I would need an appraisal to show the lot/structure are valued at $400k if I try to claim $200k as a donation.

You must work at least 750 hours per year in a qualified RE business.So most people who have high-earning W-2 jobs outside of real estate won't qualify.But the unique thing about RE pro status is that even if you don’t qualify but your spouse does, you can both file jointly and claim the losses from your RE investments to offset your other active income together.It's an incredibly powerful benefit if you do meet the criteria.

If you control how they perform tasks, set their hours, or provide tools, they should likely be a W-2 employee, requiring you to withhold taxes and comply with payroll regulations.

Use the ge benefits that you have earned to their fullest. 

Paying cash is safe and admirable, but it totally takes away this strongest tool of real estate investing.If I asked you if you could figure out a way to earn a higher rate of return than 7%, then you should be pulling equity out and rolling it into another.

Excited to learn while I earn.

I would rather earn $2000 per month at a 12% rate of return than $500 per month at a 1000% return.