I like to minimize what I pay in taxes and therefore actively manage to reduce my taxes.  

You won’t save taxes or reduce liability.

The typical issue with SE borrowers with Conventional/Govt loans is that most of the tricks that reduce your taxes also reduce your income, which is what's used to qualify you for the mortgage.

Add that payment to the mortgage on the new house and it probably won't float.I think you're stretched too thin and should be focused on increasing earnings, reducing expenses, and saving up for your next purchase.

Goal would be to reduce manual work and time intensive tasks2.

The FED is not reducing rates (maybe 1-2 times in the fall) but it's going to be 0.25%.That changes nothing. 

A FORMAL loan Mod done 9-16-2020 (But NOT recorded until 6-9-2022) reduced their rate to 3.375% to be REAMORTIZED over 360 Months.Looks like HUD took back a SUBORDINATE 2nd lien in the amount of $101,500 dated 9-16-2020 (Recorded 6-9-2022 at the same time as the Loan MOD was formally recorded)BUT they fell behind AGAIN so then another Loan Mod was done on 4-14-22 (recorded 7-15-2022) which reduced the Interest Rate lower to 3.125% to be REAMORIZED again over 360 Months.

Sum with Gross Margin and that's your EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes).Next subtract out interest expense and add in any interest income(probably none of that).That gives you net profit before taxes.Then subtract out tax expense.That final number is your Net profit or loss.The principle is accounted for on your balance sheet as you pay your loans you reduce your mortgage liability which increases your balance sheet.

VA assistants has dramatically reduced our work in the business and provided 24/7 monitoring for a fraction of the cost of local property management. 

It's reducing our prop value and dangerous with the squatters.