I think you should put your focus on a CPA that specializes in real estate taxation over geographic location.

I can't see it passing an audit without triggering some sort of gift tax at least.  

Your comment on taxation of a flip is accurate with the exception of the under 12 months part.

Depending on the type of corporation, for C Corps, there is double taxation, you're taxed first as a corporation, or a corporate level, then the profits taxed again as an individuals.2.

A few have made niches out of outbound international taxation and passthrough taxation (Partnerships & S Corps). 

Also, all my LLC’s are taxed like S Corps which prevents the double taxation.

Last year I converted an old 401k of mine into a Self Directed 401k and used that to buy and refurbish a few properties and now the monthly income is very nice and I sleep at night knowing I'm not overly reliant on the stock market.As I think forward to retirement, I've read several articles about taxation and the goal of keeping taxable income low enough to avoid paying taxes on up to 85% of your Social Security. 

If you are comfortable working with your CPA remotely there are 20+ accountants on this site that specialize in real estate taxation.

(And draw a 'salary', although doing this with rental property is almost always a mistake.)By convention, if an SMLLC elects S-Corp taxation we don't refer to it as an SMLLC any longer, but technically it still is.

I already file taxes in Japan and the US, and can get through the taxation on different properties and different depreciation schedules, but wondering if people have any thoughts on the best path forward.