While it's positive after expenses and has potential for improvement in year two, it’s been a bigger hassle than anticipated and taking attention from other priorities and areas of our life with not enough return. 

4) would this also work to defer gains on fix and flips?

The 2 year mark would save you on taxes, if you have a gain within 5 years, but it seems like you're in this for the long haul.Some advice for screening tenants.

As you gain experience and tackle even bigger projects, you'll realize that what once seemed like a mammoth deal becomes totally doable.When it's crunch time, there is no room for improvisation.

If I got a home equity loan for Property 1 and used the proceeds as downpayment for Property 2 and then got a 2nd loan for the remaining 75% purchase price for Property 2, when I sell Property 2, can I use the Property 1 loan as part of the cost basis for computing Property 2 capital gains?

Sounds more like trying to win a popularity contest, aiming to gain votes and likes from people here that also have something against wholesaling.But OK let me play along.Let's fact-check this:OP: "It’ll truly be strange to even hear people and gurus trying to make big money off it."

At the same time, my market appreciates well so I gain significant value by holding on for the long-term.

If you don't care about income and are more of a capital gain kind of guy, prices are already high (as you noticed) and there's plenty of land available to buy so I'm not sure how much is left in the tank.

She needs someone who can think outside the box and won't be looking for opportunity to sell her on something for their own financial gain and are willing to provide a free preliminary consultation.

This benefit allows the owner’s estate or heirs to receive the property at a new, higher basis—reducing capital gains taxes if they choose to sell the property after inheriting it.In short, partial disposition allows tax deductions for retired property components during ownership, while the death step-up basis resets the property’s depreciated value, providing tax relief for heirs.