Look at other platforms such as Craigslist or FB.Also consider doing mother in law suite or ADU which is technically still single family but has benefits of duplex

You can also combine these strategies to suit you and your wife's needs.

This is the niche that best suites me.

But this week, lenders followed suit.

now with covid— are ejectment suits being acknowledged by circuit court?

There are plenty of STR communities around that are zoned correctly for that use and many others that are suited for both short and long term in case you want a second exit strategy.

They will play a game where the restoration company charges a ridiculous amount to clean it up, involving all kinds of bogus proprietary chemicals (bleach labeled something fancy) PPE/hazmat suits, hazardous materials removal protocols, extreme overkill, removing all the sheetrock, carpet and baseboard, etc. knowing the whole time the insurance company will beat them down to about half their original price, and the end result will be a giant hassle where you end up paying for it all through an increased insurance premium from having made the claim.

It is referred to as an Improvement 1031 Exchange or Build-To-Suit 1031 Exchange. 

How would I structure it to best suit my future self that wants to continue to buy RE and save the most money in taxes. 

@JD KleinSpeak to your ROBS provider, but generally the structure is not well suited to passive holdings such as rental property.