We are currently preparing my real estate strategy, of course using the Bigger Pockets Strategy book, as a previous business owner in another industry, there’s a lot of good and refreshing information here in this Strategy book. 

A $12k commission may actualy break down to less than minimum wage with brokerage commission splits, taxes, insurance and all expenses factored in.That's why agents are careful to make sure they are going to be paid for their work, if they want to stay in the business.

Do a little research on using CC's for your business and paying 0% interest - there are quite a few people who teach about this.

Otherwise, you can only write off its business portion.

I realize this comes with the STR business but if I'm going to continue to use VRBO I need to find away to attract the "good" guests and minimize the bad ones.

BEST DECISION I EVER DID WAS MAKE MY WIFE MY BUSINESS PARTNER THIS YEAR FELT LIKE NEW BEGINNINGS LEAVING A OLD PARTNERSHIP AND STARTING A NEW ONE LITTLE  DID WE KNOW THIS FLIP WOULD BE THE WORSE THING WE DID THIS YEAR TALK ABOUT A HOUSE THAT WOULDN'T STOP SPITTING OUT PROBLEMS FROM SQUATTERS BREAKING IN , FROM THE CITY CONSTANTLY GIVING VIOLATIONS, WE EVENTUALLY TOOK A LOSS OVER 50K OUCH!!  

What I don't control is the market price.The specific business situation where this may be useful is on absorption of a new apartment complex units, but then they have a metric for that, absorption.

How long has the firm been in business?

The other thing is do you have a business entity.

Creativity goes such a long way in this business.