I was hoping to decrease the IRMAA penalties by deferring to next year but at this point I am just tired of trying to decipher which forms to use.

As for a more practical approach, if you happen to get a deal under contract, I would pull a list of recently sold comparables within a mile radius and decipher those properties that were paid for in all cash.

Research and check market analytic sites like AirDNA to decipher if units are being rented for up to a month.

It's cheaper than what you'll get from an attorney and without as much legal jargon that nobody can decipher.

At the end of the day it all takes time, but you need to decipher what constitutes a deal and more importantly, what investors have been looking for in your market.

@Ryan Bird under agency law, landlords are are still liable and can be held accountable for property managers' actions, even if they had no knowledge or involvement in the act, hence, the importance of thoroughly interviewing and deciphering between a good and bad property management company.

I agree with Dan, you need to run comparables and assess the gross rent multiplier when deciphering if the property is more valuable as an SFH or duplex respectively.

But deciphering tax rules and regulations had me second guessing myself. 

There will be times (hopefully) you receive a response/return phone call (not just outbound) and you will need to quickly be able to decipher who the lead initially belonged to.

Trying to decipher a property and need some local assistance.