Or maybe you want to do a combination of the above?

Property A is still used 100% for rental purposes and its basis for depreciation is half of the total basis of the combined property at the time it was placed in service as a rental property.

I owned two bed and breakfasts from around 1900 that both had a combination of wood in some rooms and paint in others.

Another idea is to team up with another investor, combining your down payments to hit that magic number.

A lot of people get stuck in analysis paralysis and the cost of the special training/programs combined with the equity lost by not being in the market and passing up on good properties ends up costing them more in the long run. 

Lender provides a first position loan up to 75% of purchase price combined with seller financing not to exceed 90% CLTV.  

Formulated my goal, used a combination of leverage and self funding so that I don't get into trouble if things start to go drastically sideways, and will be achieving my goal with this last closing I have scheduled for the end of May. 

I do not think so, I think the mortgage broker will combine your qualifications into a one application and give you an approval based on that. 

Legally she's just a roommate anyway.Just don't combine 'partners' and a househack 👍

This combined with 1031 means I can sell and never pay the gains deferred in the 1031.- you or your spouse can qualify as RE professional and the limits the OP discussed do not apply- you can use the “STR loophole” (terrible name) to not have the limits the OP Discussed apply  - a derivative of the STR loophole that for lack of better name I will call the MTR loophole will let you provide amenities to not have the limit the OP discussed apply.I suspect there are many more.