Even though the returns are low on the DST's and the fees are high, one way to look at is that in order to get that 5% return with no hassle, you in essence are paying a property manager to give you that lifestyle you want.

In the scheme of Multifamily Syndication, $25K for education and mentoring is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of doing it wrong.My wife and I had 6 SF rentals when we found Lifestyles Unlimited about a decade ago. 

Its proximity to major attractions, businesses, and vibrant city life ensured strong demand from both tourists and professionals.

I might be a little biased since I've lived here my whole life.

Happy wife, happy life!

You can’t deduct the full cost in the year you make the improvement, but you would depreciate it over the useful life of the improvement (usually over a period specific to the type of asset, like 5, 7, or 15 years, or over 27.5 years for residential property improvements).

Perhaps smartly convert it over to a Roth IRA to have tax free for the rest of your life.  

The fight is business life cycle and unemployment.

To determine if the expense should be classified as a capital improvement or a deductible repair, the context of the expense is very important.An example is, if an item of expenditure is part of a general plan of modernization, renovation or rehabilitation to equipment or other business property, it typically must be capitalized even though on its own it would be currently deductible.According to IRS Code, expenses that you must capitalize are those that:Materially increase valueSubstantially prolong useful life (including replacement of deteriorating assets)Adapt the property to a new or different useHowever, you are allowed to deduct expenses and fees for routine maintenance and repairs that help keep the property in efficient operating condition.

I've done this twice in Reno, NV and it's changed my life.