When it comes to real estate, here's a general list of eligible assets and their depreciable lifespans that you should know: Residential Rental Property = 27.5 yearsThis includes any building or structure where 80% or more of its gross rental income is from residential units.That means:- Apartment buildings- Single-family rental homes- Duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes- Mobile homes (used for residential rental)- Any kind of residential lodging facility where the primary purpose is long-term rentalCommercial Property = 39 yearsThis includes non-residential properties like:-Office buildings-Retail stores and shopping centers-Warehouses-Industrial complexes-Hotels and motels that do not qualify as residential rental propertyLand Improvements = 15 yearsThese include sidewalks, roads, fencing, some landscaping, and parking lots that are separate from the building.Personal Property = 5 or 7 yearsPersonal property used in a rental activity usually has a 5 or 7-year life.This includes most furniture, appliances, carpeting and various machinery.Qualified Improvement Property (QIP) = 15 yearsGenerally, this includes any improvements made to the interior of a non-residential building after the building was placed in service, excluding elevators, enlargements, and the internal structural framework.Computers and Related Peripheral Equipment = 5 yearsVehicles = 5 yearsNote that the land itself is not depreciable.

This is the kind of thing the bank you keep all your operating funds in should be happy to help you with. 

Keep in mind, though, that each lender has their own criteria for how much future potential they’ll factor in, so it might come down to some skillful negotiation and presenting detailed projections that don’t feel like puffery.Just be careful not to come off as overly speculative…lenders tendd to shy away from what sounds too good to be true.Anyway, I’m curious.. have you spotted any other investors in Gainesville facing a similar refinance puzzle and what kind of terms were they able to secure? 

Given my circumstances, asking any of their family members to co-sign on a mortgage loan feels like a tough ask, as I wouldn’t want to place that kind of pressure on someone.

What kind of margins are you getting?

My husband's family is from there and we go visit them often from our home in the suburbs of Minneapolis. 

The tenant understands that the property of the Tenant is not insured by the landlord for damage or loss of any kind (action of third party, fire, water, theft, vandalism, storm, heat or cold, electrical damage, pests, mold, accident, etc.), and the Landlord assumes no liability for such loss.

This contractor has 0 reviews on yelp which I found a bit sketchy, but was able to vet him by his contractor's license, worker's comp, and by visiting some of his ongoing projects.

I'd pick a market close by, or that you have a strong personal connection to, or that you visit often.For example, these investors bought properties that "weren't very expensive," or at least didn't look that way:https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/12/topics/1215726-break...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/963/topics/1195280-expe...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/48/topics/1137397-balti...

This keeps them motivated.Clear Contracts: Make sure your contracts have deadlines and penalties for delays.Regular Check-Ins: Visit the site often to catch issues early and keep things on track.Scaling UpMultiple Contractors: Work with more than one contractor to avoid delays.