@Catherine Javier If you find the property is more of a liability to you and ultimately decide to sell, the 1031 exchange would probably be the best way to take advantage of using the tax and find something with a greater growth potential.

Look for properties with low taxes, separate utilities, strong demand, and potential for rent increases.

At least this next potential home is only a single story so I cant fall as far. 

you will need to look at the APN of the property and line it up with what you actaully bought. as mentioned the tax assessed value is not an indicator of value. the land could be a utility easement, used for stormwater management etc.

Consider what questions the potential mentor may ask and how you would answer.

We still see 1% deals here that bring positive cash flow and have potential for appreciation. 

I create a comp set to dive into the competition and analyze how many other MTR homes there are, what cleaning fees are being assessed, booking lead time, # bedrooms and competition and if EV charge, Pet policy and Pools make a difference.JURNY for a PMS system & channel manager.

You can use Airdna & other STR estimator tools to get data on potential income/vacancy based on your location and property size. 

I've never heard the 25% thing before, but any difference between FMV and sales price would technically be considered a "gift" with potential tax implications for your parents.You can avoid most seller costs as there's no reason to use agents in this case.As an FYI: I always recommend avoiding a FHA loan, if you qualify for a low-down payment conventional loan.

The trade-off is losing out on potential growth from a reinvested 1031 exchange, but if you’re thinking about a HELOC later to invest again, this could bridge the gap.What I’d do in your shoes:If it were me, I’d run the numbers on a worst-case scenario for each option.