Spending more than 100 hours and more than anyone else, or substantially all the time in the business.So if you own an STR and meet the test, you can set up a tax deduction machine.Some issues -- You have to count your time, and the time other people work in the biz (cleaning, maintenance, etc..)- If use the property more than 15 days or 10% of the time it becomes a residenceI suspect this is part of why the STR trend has picked up so greatly amongst professionals working in tech.

Originally posted by @Henry Li:@Brent Olsen@Bob MaleckiI just invested 10k the minimum to test it  out.

This does not pass the sniff test for me.

You can test that side of it out to see if it's a good fit for you, but take some time to find which side is the right fit for you because that will be a key to achieving long-term success.Also build as many sponsor relationships as you can in the beginning because that'll give you plenty of options when you find a deal. 

They are making all kinds of excuses now that they've been 'caught with their pants down'....I saw a few minutes ago that January is the month they 'test their hydrants'.

They'll just keep coming back with new issues for you to fix.How to tell if this is a legit mold issue or if it's the tenants problem: initial sniff test goes as follows....did the previous tenants have this issue?

Your scattered approach is going nowhere fast (analysis paralysis) and is highly likely to result in someone taking advantage of you:(Recommend:1) Figuring out what investment approach suits your skills & risk tolerance2) Determining where in the US to apply your chosen approach3) Learning everything you can about that market4) Networking & building contacts & team in the market5) Doing a "test" investment in that market to make sure your expectations are met6) Investing more if your expectations are met.-- If not, go back to step #1 as you many have chosen the wrong approach!

We always send a contractor through to test everything and if broken, give estimates to repair and we can determine then if it is tenant damage and what charges to the security deposit should be.

By investing in properties that stand the test of time, you set the stage for financial success that can be passed down to future generations.Now, listen up, my aspiring real estate moguls!

Once you have a shortlist, sign up for an account with each one and test them extensively to see how they function.