As far as outcomes... the goal would be to simply make quality connections with people and exchange some form of contact information with those quality connections.

If this is the case then I don’t owe capital gain taxes because I paid more to purchase and renovate the LA property than what I didn’t spend in the 1031 exchange?

I’ve considered selling a property later this year that has $240k in equity to buy a quadplex using a 1031 exchange.

I only plan to hold it for another 5-7 years then I’ll 1031 Exchange it for another property.

Another could be exchanging into DSTs that will convert with a 721 UPREIT, allowing you to have some liquidity in ~3 years to go into syndications.

Rather than exchange into a bad deal they just held off selling all together. 

While no money is exchanged hands the bottom line in the scenario you have laid out you are giving the homeowner a loan that is paid from the sale of the home. 

I spent 30 years dealing with Minnesota's unfriendly landlord laws.  

Only, their rent is extremely low because they used to do construction work for the previous owner in exchange for a lower rent.

I'll end this exchange by saying: I genuinely hope someone offers you encouragement if you're ever feeling down and need it, and I will even volunteer to be the encourager if that day (God forbid) ever comes.