After 20+ years in real estate partnerships, here's what actually puts you on the IRS radar (and what doesn't):REAL Red Flags That Matter:The Partner Complaint TriggerDisgruntled partner files Form 8082K-1 disputesPartnership disputes leading to tax filingsReal Impact: Instant IRS attentionSuspicious Loss ClaimsLosses exceeding investmentArtificial basis inflationSudden large losses without economic realityExample: $100K investment claiming $500K lossesRelated Party GamesCircular property flipsBelow-market transfersFamily partnership schemes without substanceWatch Out: IRC §267 and §707(b) violationsDebt Engineering Red FlagsBasis inflation schemesArtificial guarantee arrangementsPartner debt shifts near year-endCritical: IRC §752 compliance matters!

Well I have seen this come into play - I had someone who has a note in florida that was a non-owner occupied loan and the lender claims the borrower failed to make payments on this and attempted to record the deed in lieu.

However, proving material participation with a full-time job can be challenging, especially if tasks are outsourced, as the IRS scrutinizes such claims.

If I put all of my eggs in one basket (Florida in this case), paid off property and a hurricane blows everything away, FEMA is nowhere to be found and the insurance companies take years to pay what little claims they actually do pay, I suffer through it in a blown out house.

The city is claiming my 4 unit is really a 3 unit.

The claims of 1hr to collect rent, produce receipts, and deposit checks also seems like a reasonable claim if done physically and not electronically.

I position my inspections as 'planning for future repairs/improvements' which mitigates that whole 'he's here to get my security deposit' mindset.And, I would rather have the tenant with me than to have him later claim that something was broken during the inspection.  

So, older homes have a higher frequency of claims as well as higher severity.

These course providers tend to sell their customer base on  unrealistic expectations or teach the most basic of concepts which are easily picked up through a book or merely browsing through these forums.  

You don't want to give the insurance company any reason not to pay out on a claim.