(with the DSCR loan to purchase moving faster ~ 2 weeks, it's conceivable we may be at the closing table faster than the HELOC closes).We are considering other options for the downpayment (approx $25K);   and then replenishing the funds with the HELOC cash once it hits.  

Others 15 yrs, etc.So we depreciate a portion of the asset costs faster.We do the study and get dollar amounts assigned to different parts and different schedules to front-load depreciation.Now you can get 5 or 6% of the value as a deduction in the early years...But wait... there's more.Bonus depreciation allows you to deduct a certain percentage of cost in the first year an asset is put into service.Anything that is on a schedule of 15 years or less...So the doors, sidewalks, HVAC, walls, latches, curbs, security, gates, etcA % of this stuff goes in Yr 1.For years 2015 through 2017, first-year bonus depreciation for these items was set at 50%.It was scheduled to go down to 40% in 2018 and 30% in 2019, 0% in 2020.But then the Tax Cuts and Jobs act moved this percentage to 100% from 2017 to 2022 and 80% in 2023 and 60% in 2024.Its not uncommon to allocate 30% of an asset cost to items that can be depreciated on a 15 year or faster time frame.So now 60% of that 30% of your asset's cost can be depreciated in the first year, excluding land.Pretty great.This is how real estate owners, investors, and operators make millions and pay very little in taxes compared to W2 employees.They pay even less and can offset other types of income if they are an RE Pro.

My biggest takeaway honestly was, how networking with likeminded people will help you reach your goal faster.

This is a major reasons bay area investors look in the midwest in faster growing cities. 

I don't have a problem finding deals, and have had good returns on my first property and I think that will lead to referrals down the line but I am trying to scale at a faster pace. 

Basically what I'm getting at, is with those students paying what I would assume to be a lot more in rent than you pay in mortgage, is it worth it to get your mortgage paid down faster thus creating more equity in that property?

I understand the concept, I own some REIT, but I wanted to tap into more hands on investing, and perhaps build wealth faster as BRRRR allows for that using 75% loan to value options, etc. 

Another option could be to sell and put that into something appreciating faster and maybe a bit closer to where you live. 

This day will come a lot faster than you thinkLook at potential and think long term.

In addition, the property tax rate is reasonable but the valuation was going up faster than the ADR then the hurricanes hit and values fell.