Agreed with @Ashish Acharya point above.One thing to add, bonus depreciation is available for used property placed in service after 9/27/17, however it is does not apply to the portion where the taxpayer previously had a depreciable interest.

With syndications, you usually have to be an accredited investor: minimum $200,000 income ($300,000 for married couple) or $1 million net worth (excluding primary residence).

Quote from @Julie Garner: I'm surprised that someone who recognizes the illegal importation of often unvetted individuals would seek to find yet another way to fleece the taxpayers.If our elected can fleece taxpayers, should those in real estate also have the same right? 

Ask your accountant about de minimis safe harbor or safe harbor for small taxpayers.

I'm getting married in the next year and starting a family, and we plan to move out when that happens, which means that even if I went through the permitting process now and was granted a rental permit w/the town, I knew that ultimately I was going to find myself screwed when the time came to get a renewal on it (every 2 years), and I wasn't able to prove that the property was still owner-occupied.

Now you have (a) shifted persons for a net gain because what would have been 100% tax payer funded is now at least partially private sector financed.

Passive activity losses are those losses from activities in which the taxpayer doesn't materially participate.

My wife and I purchased our current home 5 yrs ago before we were married.

Black market-  most economies that have something that impactful happen, causes the taxpayers to move to a black market approach.  4.

(Nothing worse than being married to a relationship that you have not experienced yet).