@Michael Dallas congrats on being way ahead of the game!

It’s a big leap going from military life to civvy life, and it sounds like you’ve got a solid game plan. 

Mortgage rates are dropping fairly fast so check out the numbers and have a good conversation up front with a Banker first.This can make or break your real estate portfolio just by having a game plan up front.

We made the one room a game room which all adds a lot of value for a STR investment.

This just speaks to the broader point that Airbnb is no longer an amateur's game.

Celtics game.

When it is a new development, it isn't uncommon to see someone use the date the Certificate of Occupancy was issued - perhaps that marks the "ready", but it still might not be "available".So you can certainly have a property in service in a given year, but not actually have any rental income - but certainly your facts and circumstances are much better if you can actually get a tenant in there, that (should) shore up your defense on that question ever coming up unless you are playing weird games just to get a given in service date for tax purposes.

I have walked through and bought many hoarder houses but this fentanyl is a new game changer.. my hoarder houses have normally been bull dozed so I just send in the asbestos guy and he will be in full bunny suit.. 

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

You have to have some skin in the game or else why would anyone risk their money on you?