There are some general rules but there is also room for flexibility built into the tax code depending on your specific tax strategy.Is your duplex separately metered?

Now that I know all the reps in my county I can normally get this done in 2 - 3 weeks but its taken A LOT of personal relationships built up to feel like I can get it done that fast

Hey @Jeff Ryan - While I can not speak to your exact situation, I can speak to the thousands of homes I have walked here in Chicago, where majority of the homes were built in the late 1800s/early 1900s.I would say that 7/10 of the older homes I look at have some sort of settlement in the foundation, which causes the cracks and sloped floors you are mentioned you are seeing in your property. 

I've done this with my properties because I'm well known in my small town and don't want people to know what I own.LEGAL PROTECTION: By placing your assets in an LLC, you are legally separating them from your personal assets.

Used it to pay cash for a 3/2 town home that will rent for $800/month.  

Do you look for rentals on the westside of town?

That way you can tap into your down payment and whatever equity you built to continue onto the next one.If you're going for a 2 family for 600K with 10% down in lets say jersey city heights and not doing much reno, you're most likely breaking even when you move out of your house hack and rent it fully. 

Some of the projects were with a local partner as well and then the managing chores were split between us.The lending perspective was stiff in the beginning, as I didn't have any experience at all, also no credit score, and that project was only by myself, so the leverage was low, but I could work on a low-price property to start.Fast forward 5 years, I have built a credit score with 2 credit cards under my ITIN of more than 650, and done 4 properties as experience.

Looking at lots listed for 15-25k in Texas satellite towns to initially hold then eventually build class A/B duplexes. 

Pretty user friendly and purpose built forReal Estate.