We are required to maintain a household at home while traveling and on assignment.  

Well, just the potential appreciation that could be seen with the 20,000 new jobs Intel is predicted to bring in with an average salary of $135,000 a year (currently over 2x the median house hold income in Licking County) - https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2022/01/24/mega-intel-c... 

Ultimately, they are an option to help lower income households afford a place to live. 

But -- rant incoming -- as @Erin Spradlin, resident midterm rental expert in our household would probably ask you, why limit your targeting to just one demographic? 

We currently have the below "bad debt" positions:Student loans - 50k (6%)Car loan - 29k (7.09%)2nd lien (current primary home) - 80k (6.08%)401k loan - 30k (9% - paid to yourself)401k loan - 20k (9.25% paid to yourself)Household income of 267k (not including bonus), roughly 100k cash currently and save around 6k a month not including yearly bonus's (33k + 14k = 47k net/yr) + 72k/yr (6k/mo x12) savings = 119k total net savings per year (rough estimate not including current rental)Should we pay off existing debt with the exception of our home loans (not including 2nd lien) or invest in a 250k townhome* that can rent anywhere from $2,000-$2,750/mo?

Let's say we meet for 1-3 hours per year, and you pay for math's sake 2k out of a household income of 200k. out of that 200k house hold income you are paying (for examples sake) 50K in taxes (tho it is likely much more for most people).

Record $17.5 trillion in household debt2.

@Derrick E. the new standard deductions are $12k for single filers, $18k for heads of household, and $24k for married taxpayers filing jointly.This has nothing to do with your rental deductions, however.

My thoughts for us average Joes:-Start by managing your household like a business.

People with permanent housing vouchers tend not to move often, so you should compare vacancy in both property size, type (detached/apartment), and payment source as much as possible.Generally, you might want to consider just sitting down with your insurance rep/broker and your own household finances to get a handle on what's covered and what you're seeing for expenses in your own home.