If your income exceeds $150,000, your ability to deduct passive losses from rental properties is limited, and any disallowed losses carry forward to future years under the passive activity loss rules.Yes, the deductions can accumulate and roll over year after year.

Practice these answers until they roll off the tongue.

I wondered if SF route might allow us to secure better terms at maybe a 4% interest rate for a few years on the funds not rolled into current $150k potentially assumable mortgage -- and in a few years we could roll into a traditional mortgage. 

You might consider rolling your Traditional IRA over into a Solo 401k and purchasing a property with debt, instead of IRA.

Furthermore, you'll obtain better financing rates/terms with a primary home loan than with an investment mortgage product.To get the ball rolling, connect with an experienced house hacker and investment-focused real estate agent in your market ASAP. 

With you getting the ball rolling you need to get properties under your belt and get the snow ball rolling.

If it is only lets say 2-3 years, at least you know you can roll out your money in 2-3 years when you leave, opposed to maybe many years into the future.

Or in the early stages ask for more detailed financials for the last rolling 12 months, and come back with that data early in the process to weed out those who won't budge?

I’m not sure if I should accept the offer and roll my equity in a new property or just sit tight and see what happens?

So you are just choosing one retirement vehicle over another.You can also consider rolling the 401K into your new employer and take out a 401K loan if your employer offers the option.You would normally be eligible to take a loan of the lessor of $50,000 or 50% of your vested balance which would be $4,500.Best of luck