Do you need all of the cash from the sale to finance the new construction or would a percentage suffice?

Feel free to post on the BP blog network as well....I definitely recommend blogging on your own domain, but before you're ready to take that leap, a WordPress hosted or BP blog will certainly suffice.

Should I hire an appraiser each time and if so, would a drive-by appraisal suffice or do I need to pony-up $300 for each property I evaluate.  

If the seller does not have any cash, perhaps a promissory note to the 2nd would suffice.

Does any one know if it's required to keep the original receipts or would a digital copy suffice in case of an audit?

Suffice it to say it removes all the risk... and is a pure Profit Play...

Suffice it to say some people take cruises (can we say Rich Weese) in retirement and some people clip coupons.

Then put that accounting and their balance due in the mail and mail it to the house they just moved out of (your property) In the past when judge has asked if I attempted to send the accounting to the tenant this has sufficed as I explained they left me no forwarding address but most people forward the mail with the postal service. 

;) First off you dont need permission to do a back ground check.. but suffice it to say red flag.  

Is it necessary to use a real estate tax lawyer to structure the exchange deal or a regular 1031 intermediary will suffice.