It appears as though the IRS does not specify a hold period in order to use a 1031, but all indications are that you may be asking for an audit if you try to use it within a year and it may be disallowed.

All the output you see from respondents above (including this) is each independently true advice, but they're coming from different contexts. 

If I must provide the 3rd party valuator, how do I find a qualified, independent 3rd party to complete valuation?

If they can't insure it try contacting several Independent Agents in your state to see if they can cover it under a Homeowners or some combination of policies. 

However, it comes with other restrictions such as needing to use commercial lending and having to operate it as an independent entity, as it is a legal entity, to maintain and protect the LLC's corporate veil.As for the real estate market, I'm further west into NJ so can't help you much there.If you want to chat, feel free to direct message me.

After a bit of independent search, I am strictly focusing on Taylor.

Once you buy general liability (or worker's comp) insurance, every check you cut will be audited by the insurance company to make sure that it was cut to an insured entity.

I am in engineering/project management and like my job, but sometimes wonder when can I be independent regardless.

A great question to ask a PM is if they've ever been audited by the state. 

"I've seen an old bldg, rehabbed (leaving the wood sash windows since the arch comm wanted historical preservation), come in at $400K for mostly studios.Issue is that unless you can get funding from ONE source (most non-profits need to shake seat cushions for change), then you have multiple grants - Which means multiple demands that start stacking.Stuff like the afore-mention historical, serving certain populations (like 30% AMI types) or handicapped (lots of ADA and beyond stuff), being in an expensive location, full platinum LEED (=$100K audit besides the costs of meeting spec), etc.