This is the portion of your payments that is applied to reducing the principle on the loan versus paid to the lender in interest.

These are professionals with additional training and a stricter code of ethics.

I agree with your buying advice and those principles are still true today. 

Assets identified in this study include:Building systems: water heater, electrical distribution, HVAC, plumbinPermanent Fixtures: windows, doors, bathroom fixturesStructural Components: Roof construction, drywall, wood framingInterior Construction: Wood flooring, stairs, ceramic tileThis engineering-based cost segregation study included the following methodology:Physical Inspection through a site visitDocumentation review including architectural plans, accounting records and construction documentsA cost analysis which utilizes engineering principles in order to allocate costs to their applicable asset classificationsCalculation of the depreciation schedule using MACRSAs a reminder, bonus depreciation started to phase out in 2023.

Use the profit ONLY to pay off debt, and keep investing the principle. 

If you don't trust me with your money, we're on the wrong foot already.This is not to say that there're no sh**ty attorneys/CPAs or that there're no ethical contractors.

You must learn to communicate with possible residents, ethically and legally screen them, juggle the calendar, create leases and collect rent.

@Drago Stanimirovic thank you, and you are right I will probably do cost segregation studies at some point, but so far I have still been able to get to a loss on my taxes using the straight line 27.5 year depreciation schedules, I will probably do the cost segregation studies once I can't show a loss anymore, which will happen at some point as the rents increase and the amortization schedules shift to more principle and less interest.

And finally they want success in real estate investing skipping the necessary years of experience, capital accumulation and mastering  lessons regarding real estate principles, law, and finance, by paying a “mentor” (guru) for a 3 day workshop and continual “mentoring”.  

While not in TN specifically, I have assisted clients do as you have described: live in a property as a principal residence for 2 years, rent it out for 3 years, then sell.Based on the situation described, you would appear to be eligible for the MFJ joint exclusion on principle residence on your 90% share.However, in order to retain that ability, the house will very likely need to be sold (ie, sale closed, not just under contract) by the end of this month.