I'm actively purchasing multiple properties and would like to leverage hard money loans with terms typically ranging from 1.5 to 2 years.My primary focus is on securing financing that aligns with my investment goals while ensuring that the rates and terms are the most favorable.

To answer both your questions, I would recommend you don't engage a real estate-focused accountant until you have at least one property.

This basically releases the one moving out and the security deposit stays with the property. 

When starting out, I think you should at least be able to get to your property several times within the first couple of years to en reasonable amousure everything is set up and functioning properly.

Then there's the issue with doing a 1031 which is fine but my property taxes would go from $2200/yr to $4400/yr for an identical home. 

This is counter-intuitive to my goal - slow and steady save to purchase our first investment property (with more to follow). 

After Reno, the property appraised at $239k.

I've read a lot of people will buy a property as an STR, put it into service then do a cost seg.

If I were to purchase a property at the auction that is foreclosed for first mortgage but has code enforcement liens, will the code enforcement liens go away after I win the bid and pay off the mortgage or do the liens stay on property and I am responsible for them?

The new property wouldn’t cash flow much but neither is the old one I have.