I feel really bad about that, but at the same time don't want to get scr***d myself if laws change and rent control goes into effect for my building.  

What will the effect be on mortgage rates?

My effective tax rate has been negative since 2003.  

One thing to remember is with condos one of the biggest liabilities is damage to your unit that spreads to other units (ie water leak).

Not necessarily, if you are questioning the extent of the damage, a simple home inspection should reveal that.

I would think one quality agent sleuth would be more effective, a lot easier to manage (and be more fair to them) than 2 brokers and 2 agents.  

With apartments you must have a strategy to bring and keep rents at market and reduce expenses and a manager/company who understands and is capable of executing that strategy effectively. 

The refinancing of loans would help but with a 1.5 yr timeline to pay the loans off the effect wouldn't be too material correct?

In fact, here's a recent article where NAR is quoted as saying "like-kind exchange transactions are fundamental to the real estate investment sector, and repealing the tax provision would have negative effects across real estate markets and the industry".I'd say don't worry about them going away any time soon.

Here in FL the landlord can be liable for triple the damages.