While I don’t suggest that the smaller type investor purchase and utilize “exotic” vehicles like foreign asset protection trusts, family limited partnerships with outside controls, or Byzantine or convoluted maze of ownership entities, the more simple strategies of using Series LLCs, self directed retirement plans, and paying off their home mortgage to the extent of the Federal BK homestead exemptions can insure that a plaintiff attorney never even considers going after them.  

“Josh, I feel you on this one—it’s a tough spot to be in, but let me tell you, these situations are where the real players in this game prove their mettle.

I admittedly have a bias against condos for the following reasons:1) HOAs - both a lack of control over fees and assessments, as well as potential regulation changes2) they don’t appreciate as much3) you have to work a lot harder to differentiate yourself from your neighbors. 

This would allow you to keep the current mortgage and keep entire control of the property.

Now some choose to do it with TK companies and give up the control factor that you have with your investments.

So, YOU or a project manager or a designer or a partner would be more ideal to have control over the scope of work. 

While many of these issues are important considerations and should not be ignored or overlooked, there are other more crucial criteria that you must question and evaluate first.The critical risk criteria that you must review and evaluate prior to making your final decision on which 1031 Exchange Qualified Intermediary to retain includes, but is not limited to, the following areas:Technical capability of the 1031 Exchange Qualified IntermediaryInternal processes and audit controls to safeguard your 1031 Exchange funds and assetsUse of Qualified Trust Accounts or Qualified Escrow AccountsDecision criteria and guidelines for investment of your 1031 Exchange fundsProtection from potential errors or omissions by the Qualified Intermediary (E&O Insurance) Protection from potential theft or embezzlement of 1031 Exchange funds (Fidelity Bond) An experienced and professional 1031 Exchange Qualified Intermediary will understand these concerns and should be happy to discuss these crucial issues with you.

We do not know if big players are shorting their own positions because they plan on collapsing the bubble.I do hope Jerry Shen was able to turn his fortune from Yahoo!  

Yes, it's actually possible to control mice by acting like an adult and dealing with them.

Or any game that aims to reduce FICA.However, among other advantages, a partnership allows an even better control over your FICA taxes via guaranteed payments - a partnership's version of W2.