@Jacob HavlovickBigger Pockets is a great place to find a real estate tax accountant.A good real estate accountant can save you thousands of dollars by leveraging entity selection and formation, tax deductions, cost segregations, bonus depreciation and tax planning.I recommend finding an accountant who specializes in real estate taxation, business taxation, financial planning and tax planning.You may want to consider working with your accountant remotely to expand your options.I would also recommend looking for a accountant willing to work with you throughout the year.

Is it tied to changes in the market, a response to new regulations, or part of a long-term plan?

There's other items such as this where it may be helpful to talk to a CPA/EA for a little tax planning, especially since you'll likely get caught up in the passive activity loss limitations if taking bonus on a single rental property as I often see.It's also useful to mention that even if you do the cost seg study (I'm assuming you're doing one to be talking about this), you'll still benefit from accelerated depreciation in the form of shorter useful lives on the assets where you received bonus from.

@Bryan Zayac  In PA, there is a state document called the Municipal Planning Code MPC. 

However, there is no specific holding period contained in the tax code or regulations and there is no "safe harbor." 

I myself am in a similar position looking to acquire a secondary home in the Banner Elk and would plan on using as a STR and would love any input on your findings!!

If I have several options, I would prefer a HELOC with no initial draw requirements (i.e. to establish a literal line of credit that I have no specific short term plans to use), i.e. not something like the better.com HELOC. 

You need to work with a property manager that has experience with this, unless you plan on doing it yourself.

Quote from @Steven Catudal: Hi all,My partner and I are looking to buy investment properties in Alabama, specifically Birmingham.

@Tom OchiengI would reach out to a real estate attorney for specific advice on this situation since you already have one tenant who is being difficult.On a side note, when I have inherited tenants, I have been most successful when I have provided longer non-renewal notices, like 60-90 days, and offered to assist with moving costs.