You can do this by going to local investor meetings regularly and talking with everyone, until you find that person you can bring some value and learn from them at the same time. 

Once having those professionals selected, its best to have a Predevelopment meeting with the city/county to discuss all requirements for your site.

A few weeks after paying the $25k, we set up our first meeting with our assigned CPA and started the so-called “advanced tax courses” provided, which are generic modules that only vaguely introduce financial concepts, topics, and terminology.

A proper (and legal) contingency or addendum that the seller is to cooperate with the 1031X is best taken from your state clause form library. 

There are companies that will call and "harass' the tenant for payment, but they can't take any legal action without a money judgment.You can try small claims, but you have to personally pursue it.

Say I was able to get 4 people in my network to commit an amount of money... at this point would I meet with an attorney and ask them to draw up paperwork?

Get real legal advice outside of BP and understand the rules.

The licensed realtors will be all over it as a new legality. 

As long as it meets our criteria of course haha  

If you have super basic taxes other than this, I would expect $100-$200 tax bill and you’ll know for sure if you can legally get some of that money back.