Can you write off expenses that were incurred before you bought a property?

[Bryan Odom]

Hello everyone,

I'm a new investor and haven't bought a property yet. I've read that you can write off expenses such as conference registration fees and mileage. I plan to purchase my first property before it's time to file taxes in April, 2024. If I do, can I write off mileage related to driving to a meetup that took place before I actually purchased a property? If I don't have a property by the time I file, can I write off any expenses?

Thanks in advance for your time! I really appreciate the willingness of people on this forum to answer questions.