The ability to diversify into greater numbers or more advantageous geographical locations and then consolidate as your investing cycle matures into larger less hands on projects is a key component to using 1031s successfully Absolutely as said above the 1031 has to leave you in a better position.  

The vast majority of commercial CC&R's I've seen have a management component requirement with back up alternatives should the original management operative or structure no longer be relevant at some future date.

I am going to be interning with a local realtor.

Of course we can never know how long we or our dependents are gonna live for but I would appreciate some ideas as far as where to start looking and should i also consider  a life insurance with an investment component to it as my first life insurance.

.):                          $175/moMortgage:                                   $890/moFuture management (10% est):  $400/moCap X***:                                     $190/moMiscellaneous:                            $ XTotal:                                           $ 2271 + X*** - I used this site for average life of components and Home depot for prices.

I would like to connect with more national and international investors.

I come from a completely different background, I have been a entertainment Lighting Designer for the past 10 years, with not any sales experience will that impact me interns of getting hired by one of these firms? 

International addresses are very different than domestic USA.It may be more of a complete address than you think.

While I'm all for encouraging investment in our city (assuming of course it isn't slumlord type investment, we don't need any more of that) you're talking about what is most likely a full time endeavor and as far as long term appreciation, unless you hit it just right and hit an area that has a big gentrification component down the road, long term appreciation of any substantial amount is unlikely, so you're left with cash flow and when you're normally talking about older to just plain OLD housing stock, thus higher or much higher annual maintenance costs to keep a safe and habitable rental property and keep you off of the city's "slumlord radar" which you DO NOT want to get onto, combined with tenants who are often a real crap shoot (yes, you CAN find great tenants who care about keeping a decent home even in the poorest parts of town, we have decent people in all parts of this city who are trying to build a better life for themselves and their families, yet you will also run into many who don't care, who bring unforeseen issues which seem to ALWAYS=extra, unforeseen costs to the landlord, whether you're here on the ground fixing the issue yourself or DIY plus pro help when necessary, or long distance via a PM (always going to likely cost much more)) and the wonderful looking cash flow component, which due to the very likely lack of any appreciation component, is all that's left for profit potential, also can quickly vaporize in front of you!

I have worked in the past with a travel agent that brings international travelers in, most of their reservations are close to a month.