Due your due diligence on everyone involved in the transfer. 

I'm seeking recommendations for a good CPA and tax planner/advisor in Iowa, specifically someone with experience in rental property ownership.

The exception to that rule is you don't need a license when you have an ownership interest in a property.  

You can, in most cases, take that 5-year appliance depreciation and more on rental properties all in the first year of ownership. 

Check utilities if they transfer with the property. 

Proof of property ownership.

If your goal is to transfer the entirety of the funds into a bigger property, it might make more sense to remove your tax liability via the above strategy rather than 1031ing and kicking the tax liability down the road.

Here is what I learned for future reference and in case is useful to others:1) When buying a property that has Section 8 Tenants, new owner will process the change of ownership one the sale is complete.

Transfer all of these properties to a non-recourse loan and hold.

Assuming I do all the registrations and biddings right, It is a few thousand tax, plus all the listed transfer costs etc.