Or is it a financial manner in the sense that you can't find any good deals at home.

Buyers eventually learn who buys a property and Sellers won't trust they are getting the best deal if you conveniently are highest bid.Just being direct: It's not ethical, sustainable, or in best representation of your seller.

@Ethan Morgan Good way to have another possible income stream, just weigh the consideration of sustaining it and how much value you can truly get out of it.

The answers to those questions should tell us how we need to treat the loan interest.If taxpayer just throws it in a bank account, the regs are pretty clear it is investment interest, which as you well know is itemized and limited to investment income.In a nutshell, we need to trace the cash.Treas Reg §1.163-8T(a)(3) Manner of allocationIn general, interest expense on a debt is allocated in the same manner as the debt to which such interest expense relates is allocated.

LOAN-no sustained income no loan.

If somebody put paper towel or feminine products down there, I would hold them responsible.The next question is whether or not the tenant was obligated to notify you in a timely manner that 1) the toilet was continuously flushing and/or 2) that it was leaking after it clogged.For #2, it sounds like they notified you soon after they noticed.

I'm looking for a cheaper and more sustainable option than renting and figured house hacking (buying a duplex) while rehabbing, then renting the other unit, and refinancing would be my best bet.  

There are a lot of different reasons why it may not be possible.Must be owner occupiedOn properties over 2 units, FHA has a self sustainability requirement. 

However, my initial capital raise was only $187,500 and the overages of approximately $170,000 have been put on personal credit cards and I need to find a way to refinance those at something more sustainable. 

No matter where you live, these rate of return is not sustainable.