Transition Owner Occ to Rental and back to Owner Occ

[Tammy M.]

We have a house we want to turn into an executive rental but eventually return to the property as owner occupied in Texas.

1. Are there firms that specialize in executive rentals that anyone recommends in the Dallas/Fort Worth area?

2. We understand there is a limitation on how long you are required to live in the property to keep your homestead exemption. Does anyone know the rules or limitations concerning keeping your homestead exemption and the rules about your taxes when you have declared it as a rental property?

3. We want to do some upgrades before we rent, what order should we do these to maximize tax benefits?  --owner occupied--rehab/upgrade--rental? In other words, should we do the rehab/upgrade stage while owner occupied or in rental phase? Can we declare the rehab expenses as rental expenses before you have tenant?