ABSOLUTELY NOT  1031 has time restrictions to identify and purchase like kind and typically you'll  buy a more valuable and thus more expensive Rev gen property to avoid the punishing penalties paid on the Boot( cash in ha d because you selected an exchange property that was fewer dollars than The sale price of last property go to irs site and read sec 1031 it's been there a hundred years it's really clear 

This site is full wonderful hands on real estate I formation and also has well seasoned investors willing to share knowledge.

It doesn’t always have to be previous use of the site.

I would be leery of purchasing in the city of San Diego relying on short term rental because of the San Diego environment relating to STR.

Hey Pete,Welcome to the site. 

However, my point about the deed being somewhat irrelevant in deciding will own the property relies in the fact that Texas is a community property state.  

I wouldn't just tape those up.....Hard to tell on pix, but it may just be dust that is accumulating in areas due to normal air circulation/turbulence....if that's the case, you really just need to clean the unit up...... dust will kill the efficiency of cooling unitsWorst case is that its something liquid leaking and its blowing that material across that surface and dirt is sticking to thatBy sealing it up without knowing the issue, you are just encasing the issue out of site and will likely just postpone needing to deal with it.Id take the covers off and take  a better look....my gut is that's it dust material

Assuming your not doing your own servicing then the majority of states you do not need to be licensed in but you need to register your company as a foreign entity.NMLS is probably the best site to research it but if you let people know what states your interested in then ask around.

@Brynn Hatch welcome to the site.

With that said, just wanted to say thanks to the BP site and members for all of the encouragement and support consistently displayed throughout the community.