I’m just starting my RE journey so I know my taxes aren’t very complicated, but still I wanted to use a professional and invest in proper tax planning from the start.

Please get educated before you start writing checks.What concerns me is you started this post by talking about how you are jobless.  

Hi Everyone,I'm just starting out and looking at small MFH properties but will be investing in the Midwest where I grew up, though I live in California.

I'm relatively new to this so just trying to understand these tax implications before we get started.

Does it start from the purchase date to the sale date?

This is a good place to start, but why do you want another property?

Should I discuss some bullet points and do a small contract between me and the buyer or is there a standard contract for such that we can agree up on terms prior to handing the deposit to the title company?

Set up and site prep, open permits2.) demo and clean up (also electrical and plumbing demo)3.) rough carpentry, windows4.) rough plumbing, electrical5.) city inspection6.) insulation (and inspection, at least here in Wisconsin)7.) drywall, texture, primer, paint8.) cabinets and flooring9.) doors and millwork10.) flooring11.) finish electical12.) finish plumbing13.) appliances14.) punch list15.) final clean upYou can alwys tell a bad crew when they are drywalling in one room and then start demo in another.

Before you start focusing on the team members, I would figure out what Out of State Market you're going to target.

I have used zero % very effectively over the years.WE started using it back in the early 80s the last time interest rates went nuts.