You might "lose" money on cashflow but you keep an asset that will hopefully appreciate in value and you get several benefits other than just appreciation. 

Personally, I do not like any strategy or approach that aims to benefit from the misfortune of others.

I can see how an application fee per person can be a deterrent for applicants in my case whether for more upscale rentals people may see it as more normal.I am starting off as a non-refundable fee and measure the resistance, then adjust if needed.

Starting real estate investing early is a smart move, especially while leveraging your military benefits.

Use tax benefits like depreciation, repair deductions, and tax-free refinance proceeds to offset income, and consider an LLC for liability protection.

Longer Tenure in HomesData from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows people are staying in their homes for a decade (see graph below):This increased tenure means homeowners benefit even more from home values growing over time.

Weigh the long-term benefits of the low mortgage rate you have versus selling and getting $500k from a sale exempt from capital gains tax.

I very much appreciate the honesty around the current state of the market in the area and I will make sure to adjust our projections accordingly.We are excited to start our journey and looking forward to contributing to the BiggerPockets community.

While OZ investments offer significant tax benefits, assess property risks and long-term potential beyond the tax savings.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.

@Samuel Kim - please contact @Chris K. privately and allow him to show you how you can benefit from this wonderful strategy that he implemented for his many health professional clients.