I follow listings on rabbu, you have to filter through some but I find they have a good mix of units for sale and do a good job marketing them.

The overall development is a mix of various builders of condos, townhomes, and SFRs.

I feel these are basics, though I've seen mixed opinions elsewhere about salt and pepper.

I design every house and multifamily and mixed use development we do including every component, assembly, etc.

Sounds like somebody was trying to mix business and pleasure and it didn't work out.

Also since the first purchase would be FHA (3.5%), I would still have money saved for the down payment on the next, probably in the range of around 50k, also could get a partner for the second, though since this will be my first two purchases, I'm leary about adding a partner already into the mix. 

Many mix these up and get sued.Regarding how much SD to charge in general, many landlords just charge the max. 

It can bring in steady cash, help you build wealth, and mix up your investments.

I think you are probably mixing apples and oranges.To have a capital gains tax of $30k you would have had a gain/profit of over $150k.I suspect most of the tax you owe is from depreciation recapture, which is taking back the depreciation deductions you had while owning the property. 

It was listed as a commercial property; a quadplex that also had a single family home on the back of the property (so two structures on one lot, zoned mixed use).