I wanted to ask a question about whether or not I should sell or retain the two properties I own right now. 

I won't go into detail, but if there is anyone out there that wants more info and believe's they can truly help me to retain my home, IN ANY WAY, please reply or reach out to me.

You guys might be a little quick on the trigger here;  in many, if not most, jurisdictions an owner can pull permits/function as a GC Only on an owner occupied property, not as an investor/flipper, and usually requires the owner to retain the home for at least a year before selling/renting, to qualify for that exemption.While the OP may indeed need a new accountant, he doesn't even know what kind of license the accountant was referring to, apparently he didn't even ask.

The reason we want to purchase the strip mall is because our coffee shop struggles to make leaps forward because the rent is so high, but if we owned it, we could make the rent as low as we want but still retain the equity to purchase other properties with.

I understand there is a mechanism that allows a child to buy a home from their parents and retain the original real estate tax basis under California Prop 58. 

How will retain space be effectively used?

You will want to make sure you pay off the taxes with the interest at this point to stop the sale from happening so you can retain the property. 

There are a few things on our tasks list that we want to have checked out before we rent it out and need some referrals on dependable masons  such as an electrician, plumber, heating and cooling, and fix a retaining wall and reinforce a metal fence.  

Pierce,I only have rentals in my state and as such, always retain the hard copy.

Recently another BP member was having issues with their agent because they were trying to give offers at 80-90% of value and the agent said they were low balling and demanded a $5000 retainer (or something), plus that they sign an exclusive contract (which I understand is more normal than when I last bought).