Also, what are your thoughts on using contractors who refuse to provide anything but a "total cost" estimate, as opposed to itemized list of job costs?

Homeaway has published their Premier Partner Checklist and it is interesting.I personally don't get much business from Airbnb but I have kept my Airbnb listing active because I pickup a few rentals per year there.It appears to me that HA/VRBO is king for true vacation rentals and least in my area.Notice item #1.

All three are explained in detail here to help investors make well-informed decisions about private real estate.Benefit #1: Private Real Estate Generates High Absolute ReturnsPrivate real estate offers investors the ability to generate high absolute returns.

These items could be mortgages covering the entire development that should have been released as to individual lots upon their sale, judgment liens, assessments for water/sewer facilities, more.

I'll register and everything when the property is "officially mine" and the other more important details are filed and put away.     

@Jason DiClemente@Christopher FinnAgree, I'm going to make him the offer (not including the items he said he purchased) if he is out before the eviction court date.

He did, and was recently bought out and I haven't asked for details but I'm under the impression his share reached into the 7 figures.They were considering purchasing a property in Austin, where I live, and I agreed to help them research it.

They rarely go into detail.

I like the idea of this, I'm going to send you a PM to talk more detail! 

@Jim T.Logan is correct in that you only report the state income tax refund if you received a benefit from deducting state and local taxes.Instances where you don't benefit 100% from deducting state and local taxesexample 1State and local taxes on Schedule A is $11,000(only itemized deduction)Standard deduction is $10,600You only received a benefit of deducting $400 of state and local taxes.