With apartments you must have a strategy to bring and keep rents at market and reduce expenses and a manager/company who understands and is capable of executing that strategy effectively. 

The refinancing of loans would help but with a 1.5 yr timeline to pay the loans off the effect wouldn't be too material correct?

In fact, here's a recent article where NAR is quoted as saying "like-kind exchange transactions are fundamental to the real estate investment sector, and repealing the tax provision would have negative effects across real estate markets and the industry".I'd say don't worry about them going away any time soon.

Both daughters held title until 2005 and transfered property into the mothers name so she could get a reverse mortgage.The mothers will, which was recognized by the court, gives the property back to the 2 daughters after her death.The problem:The husband, the person still living in the property, is claiming ownership and refusing to let the daughters into the property to collect their mothers person effects.

You have just found a motivated seller, my friend (:The best way to answer those questions however is through communications with the owner.

If you can make an agent feel comfortable enough with your process, the agent will work their client for you and now both of you get paid (Make sure not to step on any toes and run all communication with agents client through the agent). 

I would venture a guess that a slight cooling of the market or change in real estate (natural market cycle) would effect the higher priced homes first.  

The way the VA allows us to buy properties is a huge benefit and I'm surprised more vets don't utilize their benefit as effectively as they should.  

It takes effect October 3.

I really don't see how you could effectively claim that you weren't acting as a broker if it came to a full on legal dispute.