I am looking for other Note Investors in CT or surrounding states to have a regular meetup starting this July. 

Sometimes the best way is to arrange regular times to do showings like 1-3pm on Saturdays so the seller can be available to let you and your prospective assigns in.Otherwise as stated, take pictures, and preferably a walk through video too.

There are a few differences than buying a regular house but most of the pre qualifications are the same. 

I was told by the mortgage lender that I didn't need a regular home inspections because the HUD inspector does the same thing and that's why I am paying $700 for the inspection. 

I own a property next door and do regular termite/roach extermination because of the flow from this building. 

If you do have the funds, and want to do some of the work like installing flooring, painting, etc. yourself, I would skip the renovation loan and additional requirements that come with it and keep things simple.If you don't have access to additional funds and don't have the ability or desire to work on the property yourself, and the property won't qualify for regular financing without some of the repairs, then I would definitely recommend the 203(k) loan.

Fully rehabbed the ARV is around $175 up to potentially 195k if rehabbed well enough to comp with newer builds, but in the condition I assume it is in, the CMA comes out closer to $150k with some nearly identical dated comps sold nearby in the last six months right around that price. 

Quick sale like 30 day vs 90-120 day regular(US) value.

Re the CPA, you want to make sure you are talking to someone who deals with 1031 on a regular basis.

The the other joker in that deck would be that if those duplexes are substantially identical and there is a sale to you at an obvious discount rate the IRS will be looking for a reason to find cost basis shifting.