Since then, the property has been in caretaker status.The MSR site offers approximately 431 acres with various buildings totaling 258,441 square feet http://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/aucdsclnk?

If you see no limbs for 20 to 30 feet that is good but if you see all sorts of big limbs well those are not so good. 

Only the expenses related to the rental portion can be written off.Allocation can be based on the square footage of the rental area relative to the total square footage of the house.As for your deductible expenses, you will need to allocate the expenses between the personal and rental portions of the house.

Step off the edges of it as a square see how big it is.

On the right side of the bath is the toilet sink and a small stall shower.Since the main bedroom's closet backs to the bath wall and is only about 4 feet wide, would it be more benefical for re-sale to enlarge the main bedroom's closet by utilizing the space the stall shower takes up(inside shower is about 26"x26") and making the tub a tub/shower combination or is it more important to keep the small stall shower so the bathroom has both a tub and seperate shower.If the closet was enlarged we would put double doors in to the closet and tile the alcove around the tub if it were turned into a tub/shower combination.

Every piece was gone except for one small little square.

I too have started not even asking realtors for comps, as it seems like pulling teeth, dont know why, cant imagine it would be so hard.I find all the comps I can, find the most recent and most similar to my property, break it to square foot and apply to mine.

Up/down duplex... both units are about 1,050 square feet with 3 beds/1 bath.

Rehab costs are going to vary by location and contractor -- Mark would pay $17K in his area while I'd probably pay $9K in my area for the same work (roofs are only $150/square where I am, so about $4-5K).

My school of thought is to get your feet wet in the business by owning something closer that you can have a bit of hands on management to start, that way when you are ready to expand, you know what questions to ask of those who may do management for you when you look in areas where you won't be managing the assets day to day.