The rates are the same, by the way, so it's more of a technicality distinction, but is still important for the correct reporting schedule.

There are ways you don't have to get a second phone, though--services like Google Voice give you a separate, distinct phone # that you can use for business, but it will all route to your primary phone.

There is a very distinct difference between a HELOC on a primary residence and a HELOC on an investment property.

@Pat JacksonThe distinction is when it was an apartment you were grandfathered in.  

  (70k would not be enough for asset depletion)  However, for a non-owner occupied the QM distinction does not apply, so the ATR is NOT required to be calculated.

But understand, what you would be interested in is not the market value of your house, but the replacement cost of the improvements. 2 distinctly different things, and most fee appraisers are not well versed in detailed replacement cost.

And that makes it real estate.It's the same distinction as a mobile home that you own the lot and home together (real estate and 1031 eligible) and a lot you purchase with a rental trailer on it (only the lot is real estate).LIke kind is any type of investment real estate for any other type of investment real estate. 

I agree that sounds counterproductive, but there is a distinction in the type of house we were looking to buy (specific school zone, +4000sqft & pool) to live in and i'm looking to buy as investment.

Let's first make the distinction between hard money lending and private lending.

Friends and business have to have distinct lines.