These are people who fighting cancer, had a death in the family, or otherwise are in a bad situation. 

Our situation: My father is a cancer patient, and I am a permanently disabled adult in my 30’s that is in severe chronic pain after a workplace accident.

Basically it is a gas that can build up and overtime cause cancer. 

Watching my parents waste away to cancer spurred me to action, "enough is enough, the future needs to happen, now."

You must generally file Form 3115, Application for Change in Accounting Method, to request a change in your method of accounting for depreciation.The following are examples of a change in method of accounting for depreciation.A change from an impermissible method of determining depreciation for depreciable property if the impermissible method was used in two or more consecutively filed tax returns.A change in the treatment of an asset from nondepreciable to depreciable or vice versa.A change in the depreciation method, period of recovery, or convention of a depreciable asset.A change from not claiming to claiming the special depreciation allowance if you did not make the election to not claim any special allowance.A change from claiming a 50% special depreciation allowance to claiming a 100% special depreciation allowance for qualified property acquired and placed in service by you after September 27, 2017 (if you did not make the election under section 168(k)(10) to claim a 50% special depreciation allowance).Changes in depreciation that are not a change in method of accounting (and may only be made on an amended return) include the following.An adjustment in the useful life of a depreciable asset for which depreciation is determined under section 167.A change in use of an asset in the hands of the same taxpayer.Making a late depreciation election or revoking a timely valid depreciation election (including the election not to deduct the special depreciation allowance).

Here is a good forum: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/530/topics/1056436-clearing-up-confusion-on-tax-treatment-of-short-term-rentals

While we were working on the first unit, my husband was diagnosed with cancer and we put the project on hold for his treatment.

-Monthly Bug/Pest Treatments?

Your state and local law may have some mandates that you must follow regarding treatment of those funds.

-Has no crawlspace (common for older properties) so we couldn't see the foundation-Drywood termite/wood decaying fungi damage seen on all the windows/doors/parts of the beam on the exterior, parts of roof decking and rafters in the attic-Old leaks/moisture damage seen in the ceilings and attic-Parts of the roof has patch work-Roof doesn't have any permits on record (don't know how old it is)Seller's offer to me:-Fumigation treatment for drywood termites (tenting the house)-Replace and repair all damage wood throughout the house-Replace the entire roof with a new permit-Replace one window in every room (not all)-Pay for a structural engineer to inspect the foundation-Offer to get quotes for repairs and have a 15-20K budget to make all repairs, house is 500K.