Second, for you as a taxpayer you need to evaluate if your tax situation (e.g. property type, tax profile, material participation, etc.) will allow you to leverage additional losses generate from cost seg to optimize your taxes. 

Too many flakes and dream merchants (using my material to teach while stealing your wallet and offering to help you look for it!).

The projected returns often don’t materialize in real life.Appreciation Is Misleading in Low-Value MarketsWhile values in these areas do rise, the percentage gains are deceiving due to low starting values.

What in the "real" world has driven the value up? 

However, note that STR income may be considered active if you materially participate (e.g., managing bookings or tenant interactions), which could subject it to self-employment tax.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.

However, he asked me to sign a one-year Exclusive Right to Represent agreement, as presented to him by his brokerage.His interpretation is that it applies only when he materially assists me, but I think the boilerplate brokerage language he was given reads much more broadly:"If during the term of this Agreement Buyer enters into a contract for the purchase of Property through the services or efforts of the Broker or Buyer’s Brokerage Firm, or by or through any other persons during the term of this Agreement" (emphasis mine).My concern is that, under my interpretation, if a fellow real estate investor wants to unload a property or if I get pointed to an opportunity by a former agent, colleague, or friend, this agreement could create an obstacle to moving forward with the deal.In the end, I didn’t sign.

Rehab costs and ARV (After Repair Value) are key parts of evaluating deals, so it’s great that you’re diving into these concepts early.For rehab costs, creating a rough estimate starts with understanding the scope of work and local pricing for materials and labor. 

I have never been shy of facing challenges and I truly believe knowledge is power (something my grandfather taught me at a young age)I really want to learn everything there is to learn about realestate and am driven and hungry.Thanks in advance for any suggestions or recommendations.

If you research recent sales you can always provide the appraiser a list of those sales.One of the best ways to insure a higher value is to update the property using materials and fixtures that are popular and common in the area.

We have had two homes broken into and materials stolen recently.