If you sell a property, and do a 1031 exchange with the proceeds, but don't need all the proceeds for the down payment of the next property, are you taxed on the additional profit that isn't part of the exchange?

Also if the whole property or the yard is fenced then an additional barrier fence around the pool itself isn’t required.

Additionally, you can still find properties for 120-180k that will positive cash flow and hit the 1% rule.

I'll just add that in addition to offsetting future tax liability, I'd like to offset current taxes as well, during my highest earning years. 

So, many people choose to operate in their own personal name but buy an additional umbrella policy to protect themselves from liability.

Specifically I would love additional guidance when it comes to the process of forming a syndication to purchase apartment buildings.

That is an additional savings. 4.

In short, I can afford the additional $1100/mo cost of a second house, even until I rent it out.I have around $35K in HYSA and emergency funds that I could use for a down payment, but that's less than 20% which would be required for a conventional loan, assuming full purchase price.

Considering that, you are likely going to see appreciation year over year, which essentially will be additional equity you'd capture just by simply living in the home. 

Additionally, I wanted to begin using properties to pull equity to go towards buying more.