As Nicholas mentioned, most CPAs should have the resources to research state tax laws as necessary, and/or have colleagues who are SALT (state and local tax) specialists.

I'm fairly new here as well so take my opinion with a grain of salt and hopefully some more experienced investors can chime in as well. 

4) With the new SALT Tax in place, how much tax credit can I claim?

There are a lot "RULES", just take them with a gran of salt.

Lastly, I am terribly pessimistic so take my observations with a grain of salt.

Oh, since you are local to the Salt Lake area make sure you connect with @Jeff Rappaport, who hosts a wholesaler meetup every month that is really awesome.

The metrics are important, but they should be taken with a grain of salt.  

Crime statistics don't show it to be bad, but I only take that with a grain of salt. 

What I am doing is daily trying to learn my market (Salt Lake City) by running numbers on deals that I see daily from MLS hot sheets that my realtor has set up for me.

hey @Shaun Morgan , I don't have too much experience in this field so DEFINITELY take my opinion with a pound of salt, but from my education in entrepreneurship and from what research on the topic I have done, when it comes to private investors it is less about what info you bring to the table on the first visit and more so how you approach the situation.