Can the $2k ever offset taxable w2 income?  

$100k to invest.I am trying to find a way to lower taxable income if possible from W2, I currently have 1 rental.I was thinking of getting another.Was looking for general advice.Should I get 1 rental with the 100k, any certain prices I should target or locations?

Right now you have an unrealized gain when the transaction happens that's the taxable event. 

All that said, depending on how low your adjusted tax basis is, having a taxable sale would be extremely costly. 

So you cannot use that property as collateral for a loan. 2) Again, the house is not your name anymore so there are no depreciation benefits.3) From my understanding (and I'm not a tax guy so double check this with someone who is) is that your taxable income would be calculated based on the capital gains over and above your initial purchase/capital improvements and recaptured depreciation (for a SFR, the property, not land, depreciates 1/27.5th each year) but the amount you lend back would not be taxable until you receive that income.

You can also do a deed of transfer at closing and switch it into another LLC, may be some title fees but since there is no sale, it is not a taxable event.

It also triggers your taxable gain, but merely defers it over 30 years. 

Agreed, it makes no difference taxable income-wise to supercede the return.

This conversion does not create a taxable event. 

The penalty is the irs considering the entire retirement account bei withdrawn and taxable if they disagree with you.