My maintenance is little to nothing as we do the reno correctly.

I'm seeking advise from people who may have been down this road before on whether we should seeking other financing methods to go LLC to LLC or quit claim the lot back to our personal names to satisfy the 1031 exchange rules. 

@Anthony KolbuszBRRRR method is a fantastic strategy, especially with your trade experience.

@Heath D Wallace Cats can damage your property if not maintained correctly, if your apartment has carpet then cat urine is can get soaked in it if the cat pees on your floor.

I think what @Garrett Brown is getting at is using this in addition to other methods.

Does anyone have a checklist or some sort of qulifiying method? 

Scale Strategically (if this applies to your goals) Reinvest profits, use the BRRRR method (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat), and leverage 1031 exchanges to grow your portfolio tax-efficiently.I'm a mortgage lender at Aslan Mortgage Lending and would love to find time to talk and discuss your journey.

This is the simplest method, but it also means your tenants are more likely to abuse the utilities by leaving windows open with the heat or A/C running, leaving lights on, ignoring the toilet that constantly flushes on its own, etc.3.

However, this method still carries reassessment risks.A revocable trust set up by your aunt (after your stepfather quitclaims his interest) is likely the simplest and most tax-efficient way to ensure you eventually own the property while avoiding property tax hikes and probate.

Im assuming you want to invest out of state, correct?