While this is true, I think most people forget there are two components to refinance.

One component for investors to consider is an exit strategy.

It sounds like two out of the three components of the 1031 exchange were in place at the closing. 

The reg cited in your original post says (c)Payments to which subsection (a) applies(1)In generalExcept as provided in subsection (d), this section shall apply to any payment on account of the sale or exchange of property which constitutes part or all of the sales price and which is due more than 6 months after the date of such sale or exchange under a contract.Q1: Since we are not financing for more than 6 months, does the imputed interest component not apply?

Because the underlying housing asset (the leased property) is only one component of an STR hosting business.

The option has two components: a price and a date.

A streamlined process for cost segregation studies: AI is able to help streamline the cost segregation reclassifications by analyzing and identifying property components into their appropriate useful life more efficiently than traditional methods.The ability to identify eligible tax credits: AI is able to sort through and analyze a vast amount of tax laws and regulations in order to attempt to identify potential tax credits available to the real estate investor.

The real estate professional or coordinator has input and dealmaking influence, but the terms of financing are generally the key component to unlocking the transaction. 

Need a new roof in a 3-5 years, you probably want to be pretty liquid (year long CD, Money Market, maybe very short term bond fund etc) for those funds.On a condo board 15 years ago, I  was once able to get us into some nice CD's a decade ago that laddered with the useful life of components.

This helps to establish a "detrimental reliance" (implied contract) legal standing in case they attempted to go back on their notice.