The trend has been strong and across many zip codes with gains from 4%-13%  zips 89119-89123-89118-89109-89102-89101 and 89030 have been very strong These run the gamut from southwest to northeast with of course heavier volume in the north east It is a broad deep rally with multiple offers on many listings  PM me if you want some of the reports  with your email Account Closed

Normally on a flip you will have to pay capital gains taxes unless you want to defer them and do a 1031 exchange into a larger property. 

Since this was awarded to me in the divorce, usually assets gained in a divorce settlement is non-taxed, but since She bought it as a 1031 exchange, do I get stuck with the capital gains taxes?

I'll be taking classes this October but I want to take the time I have now to gain every bit of information I can about this business.

Taking a "loss" certainly has some nice tax benefits (especially if you have a decent W2 job), clear those with an accountant.

There are so many benefits and drawbacks to investing in your local market and just as many benefits and drawbacks to investing in a ton of different places in the US.I think to help limit the context of this conversation, you may want to quantify some of the variables of this question, to help aim answers.For example:1. 

Google "piercing the veil".Now here's the one where it sounds great on paper but I'm sitting here like...ehhhhhCreating an Irrevocable Real Estate Trust for each property where the grantor (you) give the trustee (your LLC) full benefits of the property.  

My roommate was interested in financial freedom so figured it wouldnt hurt to go with him and see if i can gain something out of it. 

Don't rationalize any numbers, or use anything other than cash (i.e. equity, appreciated gain, tax deductions, ...) since those other items are NOT CASH.3 - If you have a negative number, that means you get more cash back in your deal, within the first year, than you spent (so in this case...used)...and you have a winner.4 - If you have a positive number, that means you have spent money to buy this property...your money.5 - If you fall into the #3 category, you have recovered all your initial cash (seed money).  

Never Split The Difference by Chris VossThe Psychology of Selling by Brian TracyThe Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity by Edwene Gaines