Around here the only time we see a house with dish/directtv is when it can’t get either Spectrum or Xfinity (it will be one or the other, you won’t have a choice).

Well I'll be darned if they weren't still quite tasty!

FHA defines luxury items such as outdoor jacuzzis, tennis courts, outdoor kitchens, murals, new swimming pools, and items that are not permanent fixtures such as antennas or satellite dishes.

While you're in the learning/networking maybe phase see if you can get a job helping out in some trades type work with an investor who flips properties instead of washing dishes.  

Does anyone have any advice on the feasibility of not classifying the property as an investment property to depreciate or write off expenses such as furniture, dishes, insurance etc, & just collecting monthly rent on your property for a regularly classified home?

@Shawn Ackerman, yes most are in "D"ish neighborhoods (Baltimore has a reputation for a reason), but some are just really distressed Cs.

Trust me, you don't want to have your tenant call to let you know the new kitchen cabinet came off the wall when she put her dishes in it, to find out the contractor you hired didn't screw it into any studs (haha .. yes, it's true .. luckily we no longer work with that contractor but will likely be cleaning up messes for years to come).

Is it reasonable to expect tenants to take care of things (ie. not putting wet dishes and other things away in the cabinets..not banging the edges of cabinets when they put things away…not dripping water on outsides of cabinets leaving it… and things of that nature)?

They are all short term rentals so everybody is on their best behavior and we don't ever have to deal with that roommate who always leaves dishes in the sink!

Is it a few light switches replaced with a dish washer change out?