David Greene did a podcast a few hours ago about this and explained how recent changes in capital gains taxes might motivate some sellers to use seller financing to defer capital gains taxes. 

Inspect where they presently live, if it's clean and we'll kept, your's will be too.

The previous owners had exposed drywall/studs, chipping paint, and some other minor deferred maintenance.

Review and re-negotiate utilitiesAnalyze insurance policiesFind new tenants such as 5G Rooftop LeasingDiscuss loan payment deferral options with lendersRepurpose all or a portion of your building / propertyExtend tax returns to SeptemberAppeal increases in property taxes or negotiate lowering or deferring payments for current property taxesAssist current tenants and educate them on funding programs available to themRefinance any existing loansSearch for new income sourcesDiscuss deferral of insurance payments or partial payments with your insurance providerResearch Funding Assistance in the Chambers of Commerce guidesDefer the employer’s share of Social Security payroll taxTake advantage of higher interest deductions Utilize active lossesApply cost segregation utilizing the new CARES tax laws and amend up to 5 years of previous tax returns to potentially receive refundsI hope these tips were helpful and if you have any questions at all, feel free to reach out!

No, you cannot. 1031s are used to defer (no avoid) the capital gain from the sale of real estate assets.

(I do presentations on the Airbnb laws in various cities.)Finally, if you don't already own your own place here, I think that's the best first "investment" you can make.

In my experience, appraisers are open to looking at what you present to them as long as you’re respectful and not wasting their time with comps that are obviously worse.Explain the neighborhood highlights.

This is what keeps the profit separate (although deferred). 

Can you use Zillow or other platforms to present your wholesale home?

That would qualify you to take the tax free gain of sec 121 and defer the rest of the tax and depreciation recapture in a 1031.