@Rebecca GonaBigger Pockets is a great place to find a tax accountant that specializes in short-term rentals. 

A 4-plex would be ideal and you could play around with doing 1 long-term, 1 mid-term, and 1 short-term, plus you, if it works on your area to upgrade your income.

The decisions and actions you make today can lead to incredible long-term benefits, so it's great that you're starting now.A good starting point is connecting with a lender that aligns with your goals.

The plan is to purchase a new home & keep current as a long term rental.

I am wanting to get into fix and flips and eventually long term rentals. 

Are you needing a long term or bridge loan?

The fix-up and increased value will not matter to the IRS as long as you sell within a reasonable time frame of the house passing into the estate.

Just be willing and prepared to make it a long-term investment to get you mentally and financially through any bumps in the market going forward.Good luck! 

From my experience working with over 400 investors, starting early gives you a huge advantage in building long-term wealth.

As far as timeframe, anywhere from 21-45 days depending on how quick a borrower gets their docs to underwriting, how long the appraisal takes, etc.