Deducting out of state business travel as a licensed Realtor

[Nick Keller]

Question for the group... I'm a licensed Realtor in Virginia and am planning a trip to Massachusetts partly to visit family and partly to evaluate investment properties.  I don't currently own property in MA.  I realize the travel expenses to put a rental property "in service" would usually be included in the property's basis and depreciated over 27.5 years.  Since I'm already in business as a real estate professional, am I able to deduct the business part of this trip?  Thanks for any guidance!