Since each taxing municipality has different mill rates (property tax rates) a 1031 exchange into a state or municipality within a state where the mill rate is lower can help. 

Thanks for your help, it was really insightful.

Its best to discuss your scenario further with a investor friendly lender so they can best advise and help you plan to build your investment portfolio because if you make one bad investment that can derail your progress.

Any personal experiences with providers would be helpful.3.

These two data points help us understand the demand for new construction homes in terms of size and price.

I thought I understood until I read section 483 and section 1274 and now I am lost.Please help and thank you. 

@Peter Christensen we do a few things that might help you:1) Lookup the owner of the rental property in public records.2) We have a Whitepages account that allows us to look up either names to get numbers, or reverse look up a number to get a name.3) Bank statements are also great!

So having a plan, ability to do some things yourself, and building a team prior to starting is helpful in reducing some of that risk.

They seem to be no help just on plans.

Ensure that a structural engineer inspects critical areas like the roof and foundation, as their expertise can help you understand the true condition of the home and potential repair costs.