The LLC helps when you are trying to do things like turn on utilities. 

If you made housing free the same bleeding hearts would be complaining about utilities.

There are two main ways to utilize this exemption.

Fully furnished, with all utilities included.

all materials, all labor costs to others, Not you, utilities, interest payments, permits, licenses, auto/truck expenses, tools needed are all deductable. 

• Should utilities, internet, or services like snow removal/lawn care be included, or not?

@Marc Robinson some may be more adventurous than me but with septic and well I would walk awayI prefer TOH of course but with $300 lot rent and 19 occupied, utilities included in rent I would pay $400-450k for this

Quote from @Fernando Martin-Gullans: Hey y’all, I’m a retail investor with 2 SFH rentals worth a combined ~$650k looking to utilize some of my stored equity to buy more out-of-state properties, but I’m not quite sure how best to proceed given that my interest rates are incredibly low (leaning me away from refinancing) and neither property is owner-occupied (which I believe prevents me from using a HELOC).

I did make sure they got the utilities switched over in to their name which took a few days.All in all, it was maybe 7-10 days left in august by the time they got all the utilities switched etc.

Still up to me to properly utilize it and get the deals contracted.