You have the mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, capital expenditures (roof, flooring, etc.), and also need to consider the cost of vacancies or bad tenants.I also recommend you charge market rate, for yourself and the tenant.

I’m talking about getting thorough with expense estimates, factoring in property taxes, insurance, and a cushion for maintenance.

For example, I have two STR high-income earners (making 140k & 150k) in Joshua Tree for sale with low expenses, where the sellers will stay on to manage it.Making sure you are keeping as much as possible from the tax man is a huge component and to do so you usually have to invest it.

I’m told taxes and insurance is lot and will rise each year and cash flow is hard to come by.

Whether we agree with these items or not, the following are inflationary government policies: stimulus, student debt relief, tariffs, increased child tax credits, limited immigration, and big government deficit spending.

Purchase price: $2,800,000 Cash invested: $560,000 The property is a three-story multi-family residential building with six independent units, initially facing significant challenges due to poor conditions.Renovation Investment Summary:- **Structural Repairs:** $250,000- **Kitchen Modernization:** $100,000- **Bathroom Updates:** $50,000- **Exterior Improvements:** $100,000- **Holding Costs:** $50,000- **Property Taxes:** $30,000- **Insurance Costs:** $10,000- **Management Services:** $10,000

I haven’t made any profit yet and I’m wondering if I should still file taxes for my “business “. 

I don’t know how 2 people got 3 homestead exemptions but that seems like something the local taxing authority could catch pretty easy.

Rent Per Unit $‎650 $‎700 Other Income $‎750 $‎800 Less Vacancy $‎(3,120) $‎(3,360) Operating Expenses $‎18,790 $‎19,809 Repairs $‎4,000 $‎4,200 Capital Expenses $‎2,000 $‎2,100 Landscaping $‎1,500 $‎1,575 Utilities Vacant Units $‎288 $‎302 Property Taxes $‎6,000 $‎6,300 Insurance $‎1,500 $‎1,575 Management $‎3,002 $‎3,232 Other $‎500 $‎525 Net Operating Income $‎41,241 $‎44,831 Financing Expenses $‎22,224 $‎22,224 Cashflow $‎19,017 $‎22,607 Down Payment $‎21,000 $‎21,000 Cash on Cash Return 90.55% 107.65% Keep in mind, this return doesn't even include the principle pay down on the loans.

Your equity doesn’t matter in the taxes or decision.