I have been implementing the ideas and currently hack my housing in an unconventional way (my girlfriend and I trade work at a farm in Northern Virginia in exchange for rent and board for her horse). 

I currently have the proceeds of the sale with a intermediary to do a 1031 exchange.

I currently have the proceeds of the sale with a intermediary to do a 1031 exchange.

Have you thought about a 1031 exchange on some of the flips going forward to push off the capital gains taxes?

More calls and follow-ups with the exchange of phone numbers to verify the PM skills, all before I meet any of them in person.

I have her DL, SS# (hopefully she gave me the right one :-))- Apart from keeping pictures, notes of damages , and a bill from handyman, sms exchanges, late fee records, anything else I need to do to strengthen my case infront of Justice of Peace court.

You can actually talk to folks who have done exchanges with people like us.

What taxes do I have to pay on the gains from the REIT stocks?

The second is really solid blue-chip type investments and AAA-rated bonds, etc. stuff that unlikely to drop 50% in a stock market downturn.

I have always heard to 'think of it like a stock'....meaning if you sold a stock in that IRA, you would have the same tax consequences, as outlined above.