I want to become really good at analyzing deals, and determine the markets I should focus on.Are there any resources aside from this forum (books, journals, news publications, podcasts) that you recommend I use to learn more?

Congrats on this!

So, keep in mind this tax deduction is basically like getting a discount on the purchase. 

.✅ Start demo—this means ripping out finishes (cabinets, flooring, tile, trim), not knocking down walls unless absolutely necessary.✅ Clear the site—haul off junk, trim trees, and clean up the yard so you can actually see what you’re working with.Get this step right, and everything else will go a lot smoother.

Looking forward to learning from this community and hopefully contributing as I gain experience.Let’s connect!

This is a tough situation, and you want to handle it with care, especially since your tenant has been with you for a decade.

This is common in California  Thanks for the reply.

. - I think you can search events in this forum to see when local BP meetups are scheduled.

I would still use a Hard Money Lender for something like this - some have a minimum but you may just have to search for a bit and find one that doesnt.

I think it's fair to say it's beyond normal wear and tear, but I'm not sure how much is fair to say "I'm going to have to deal with this somehow, and because of the scratches I'm deducting x."