To avoid any confusion, this is not the same thing as ( “home sharing”, or an “owner-occupied rental.”)Improvements generally need to be depreciated over 15 years, note I said generally, depending on the nature of the improvement and how long the IRS standard depreciation period is for the cost and size of expenses.Strategies depend on a number of things including, but not limited to: type of property, your material participation, how long you plan to hold it, your goals.

Trying to cough up similar amount +new adjusted inflated price is very tough. 

Tough pill to swallow, I like cash and certainty over sub2 all day but that's my preference. 

It's a very street by street market, so it's tough to put a hard no on any particular neighborhood or zip code. 

(long response ahead)First off, I just want to say I see you—and you're doing the best you can under some tough circumstances.

This is a tough one.

I don't think your planner was trying to steer you wrong but it's tough to empathize if you've never experienced owning a family business/real estate.  

I just got pre-approved for a property, but finding cash-flowing deals in metro Atlanta has been tough, most are barely breaking even or showing negative cash flow.

A lot of people shrug off Modular and Manufactured but they are both cash cows and help avoid longer construction times, higher material costs and less permits. 

Also, unlike Mexico, where it was tough to open a bank account, getting one in Colombia was straightforward, and I found a bank that doesn't charge for transactions.So, my conclusion from experience, Cancun still for me more expensive.