It's what happens when you bust out that really demonstrates your mettle.By now you've already figured out that you're probably undercapitalized based on your portfolio size.

Also, we may require an additional security deposit and demonstration of good employment history, credit history, and rental history since the time of the crime.  

Demonstrate over an extended period of time that you are up to the task and can handle the work load as well as still make time for your family.If your wife is investing adverse all together as yiu seem to allude to then discuss the fact that money sitting in a bank account is a guaranteed loss as you are losing buying power overtime due to inflation.

In fact, there was a study performed by one of the Big 4 accounting firms that clearly demonstrates there would be a reduction in GDP if Section 1031 were to be eliminated. 

Properties acquired for personal use such as your primary residence, personal vacation property or personal second home would not qualify for 1031 Exchange treatment.You can acquire replacement property that is held for rental, investment or business use, hold that property for a sufficient period of time in order to demonstrate that you did in fact have the intent to hold for investment purposes, and then later convert the property into your primary residence or second home.The critical component here is that you must be able to demonstrate that you did in fact have the intent to hold for rental, investment or business use should you be audited.

., It all depends on your demonstrable intent in purchasing the rentals. 

This will help in demonstrating that that portion was paid and protect you from the subs also filing a lien.

"- even if your company was directly involved in successfully defending your 25+ clients, and you can demonstrate it (which you cannot because it's confidential info) - it still does not preclude a possibility that there were another 25 audits that the IRS won- the mere fact that there's a pattern of DSTs being audited is a concern on its own.Once again - I'm not attacking DST.

It is possible that  the investor's intent can change,  but if the investor gets audited they will have to demonstrate that they did in fact have the intent  to hold both properties for rental, investment or business use. 

It does come down to what @Alex Olson refers to - your intent and how you demonstrate that intent.