It's located 9.5 hours of a rough mountain drive so work would be difficult until spring.  

And the pace of homes being built is too far below what we need to keep pace let alone catch up to where its only going to get worse.And that is going to drive up inflation big time.

You can, and should, interview them and ask them all of the appropriate screening questions - but you won't be able to "test" them out without contributing significant capital as part of your test. 

I have a buddy that's very successful in D Class areas.He drives around all day putting out fires, getting in literal fist fights from time to time, throwing people out of their apartments or changing locks when they leave, constantly breaking the law because they are "civil matters" and he knows the tenants won't come after him, and shaking folks down for late rent.I'm sure folks in A Class areas are doing the same, right?

Only nearby city that rivals it is Amarillo (2.5hr drive north) and it does not have anywhere near the education infrastructure or $$$ inflow Lubbock has (at least not yet) with Texas Tech and associated schools, SPCC, LCU.

Some cliff notes:REP status requires 750 hours in real estate activities, and then after you hit that, the test is materially participating in your rental activities.If it is a short term rental with less than a 7 day rental period, if you materially participate, which could include at least 100 hours and that is more than anyone else, then yes possibly can use the bonus depreciation against other sources of non-passive income. 

Have you noticed that your social media videos actually drive conversions, or are they just generating views?

It also fits your budget & also I know some of some above 1,300 sqft, good boned, central air, yard space/drive way space having on & off market single & multifamilies in that price range. 

Impact: Drives immediate, measurable business outcomes.

Changing the tractor's oil in the driveway was another favorite: keeps the dust down in the summer.The developer risk is if that solid ever gets tested (phase one or phase two environmental study) you may have to dispose of it as toxic waste, which is super expensive.