So I am looking to see if anyone has ideas about what options I should consider to gain more experience in real estate investing as I get my finances up to make my first purchase.  

Given the fact that if  there is a gain a future year the prior year loss can offset it, it seems that one would want to file the loss so they can offset that gain.

Subject to tax liability on the gains of course, but it gives you more flexibility.  

Not worth it to me.In my area if the pool has a powered safety cover that can hold body weight, then a barrier fence is not required.

I was determined not to let anything hold me back.As I gained more experience, something exciting happened.

We plan on doing this every 5 years once we gain equity back.

But ya have to make some educated prognostications in life.Add this to the information your processing - What your talking about doing is eliminating around $4000 or interest expense (which is deductible anyway so really could be a real impact of eliminating $2800 or so) of debt in exchange for paying over $10K in capital gains tax (don't forget possible state gains tax as well).  

Ready to learn, grow and gain financial freedom and generational wealth.

Over the years, I’ve gained hands-on knowledge in a variety of areas, including tax liens, tax deeds, rental properties, and fix-and-flips.

That will put us into the long term capital gains category on the sale.