I keep getting mixed answers I don't know why this real estate professional tax status is confusing to me along with cost segregation and bonus depreciation no matter how much I read about them Do you pay a good tax professional to give you an answer?

@Jonathan B.Assuming you pass the "material participation" test for 2023 and did not use the property yourself (or used very little), you should be able to treat it as an STR for 2023, including bonus depreciation.  

The best area really depends on your goals—whether you’re looking for steady year-round bookings, high seasonal demand, or strong appreciation.

Since it will evaluate photos, bonus points if it could look at the MLS and recommend the best finishes and paint colors to maximize the ARV.

People are always selling items for  Cash..Tax Write-Offs for FurnishingsFurniture & appliances under $2,500 per item → Typically fully deductible in the first year.Big purchases over $2,500 → May need to be depreciated over 5-7 years, unless I use Section 179 or bonus depreciation.Bonus depreciation for 2025 → 60% of eligible costs can be deducted in Year 1 (phasing out after that).Cost Segregation Study → Helps accelerate depreciation on things like furniture, fixtures, and appliances.Summary :Keep good documentation on all purchases for tax purposes.Making sure you meet material participation requirements is crucial for maximizing tax benefits.The faster you get everything in place after purchase, the sooner you can write it off.

But then in a year, you could buy another primary residence with your VA secondary/bonus entitlement with $0 down (yes having 2 VA loans at once), and keep and rent out your existing home.

.🔥 #1: Real Estate is About to Explode AgainTrump is a real estate guy—he’s going to bring back policies that favor investors.I’m calling it now: 100% Bonus Depreciation is coming back—and it’ll be retroactive.That means massive tax write-offs for real estate investors, making syndications, funds, and commercial properties even more attractive.Trump will push for more Opportunity Zones, making it easier to defer and reduce capital gains taxes by investing in real estate.Lower regulation = Easier development, faster approvals, and more investor-friendly lending.💰 What am I doing?

Bigger Pockets is a great place to find an accountant specializing in real estate taxation.A good real estate accountant can save you thousands of dollars by leveraging entity selection and formation, tax deductions, cost segregations, bonus depreciation and tax planning.I recommend finding an accountant specializing in real estate taxation, business taxation, financial planning and tax planning.Consider working with your accountant remotely to expand your options.I would also recommend looking for an accountant willing to work with you throughout the year.

Bonus: have you thought about your 10 year goals/plan?

Bonus depreciation recapture is based on the year that is placed into services.As of right now, the bonus depreciation for 2024 is 60%.It is not likely that they will change the bonus depreciation retroactively to 2024.If they change the bonus depreciation for properties purchased in 2025, it will have no impact on a property you placed into service in 2024.