-AlexYou’ll be able to qualify for the tax deduction and the Like-Kind Exchange based on how you structure the deal, but yes to both possibilities  

-Although a home appreciates at 4%, it's 4% of 700K, whereas i'm only earning money on 200K with an ETF stock. 

Security deposit amountYou can find plenty of examples by searching for "tenant estoppel certificate doc" or exchanging "doc" with "pdf" for more options.Here is an example and explanation: Sample EstoppelSome have a lot of legal jargon but this document does not need to be so detailed.

After operating the STR for the first year can we turn the STR into our primary residence for 2 years then sell and avoid capital gains tax and depreciation recapture instead of doing a 1031 exchange?

Just to clarify, I believe you have to actually own the property for it to be your homestead so unless they bought the house they moved into as tenants in common before the marriage, they would have needed to exchange deeds after.

I'm particularly passionate about Rental income, Real Estate Financial Analysis, Probate and pre-Foreclosure Investing.Outside of real estate, I enjoy tennis, chess and stock investing.Excited to learn and connect with you all!

And I'd happily take it, knowing it's above market price, in exchange for my cash back.But if you're trying to pull off a fix-and-flip you need to be realistic.

Hello Tax pros,I am planning on executing a 1031 Exchange (simple one - no boot, same owner, etc.) using IPX 1031 sometime over next couple of months  (already had call with IPX) and had a question relating to my taxes on the potential upcoming transaction.  

Partially because you did not rent it for an entire year but mostly because of upfront expenses: getting it ready for rent, buying furniture, electronics, and other furnishings, stocking up on initial supplies, and so on.

We both lost out to someone that was willing to give the Seller almost the price they were asking because they were doing a 1031 exchange were they had a substantial amount of cash and they liked the property location.This similar scenario has played out for me several times over the last few years because the market was so hot.