Thanks,JaredI'd only pursue this if there is an big upside for appreciation, or if you planned on keeping the house forever as a rental.Run the numbers, subtract 15% a year for vacancy and on going maintenance and repairs during each year, subtract 15% per year for maintenance and repairs to get it market ready once you decide to sell it.Example if you were to keep it for 5 years and sell at the end of five years:12x$200=$2400 year gross profit15% for vacancy, maintenance, repairs ($-360.00 per year)= $2040 gross profit per year15% set aside to repair, repaint, replace to get ready to sell on market = $1800 $7000-$8000 net for 5 years of rental.Appreciation over the term you would keep it would be the only incentive, and it could be a big reason why to rent it.

2.For purchases made on a credit card, is it best to use separate cards, or are there good methods for tracking expenses by property?

PadSplit is not passive but it has been a mostly positive experience for me.His numbers seem realistic except PadSplit fees are typically 14.75% (not 14.25%)which is a 12% platform fee and a 2.75% stripe fee to allow members to pay their rent w a credit card. 

Should we go the STR or long-term rental (LTR) route to break even and rely on future appreciation, with the goal of selling in five years?

If they really want the house they will sign one lease.I can't tell you how many tenants I've had who had parents that were lawyers and pulled the "lawyer card" even before they moved in.

For context - I have a five bedroom home, split in two units in ATL.

There's no way you're gonna build a LEGAL ADU for that price, at least five times that, maybe.

This is basically an unsecured personal loan, like a credit card.

Those people overlooking what it means to “materially participate”Here’s the Material Participation Criteria:Spend more than 500 hours on the short-term rental businessDo substantially everything for the STR businessSpend more than 100 hours on the activity and no one other individual spends more time than you doSignificant participation activity for more than 100 hours, and your combined activity in all significant participation activities exceeds 500 hoursParticipating in the business for five of the 10 previous taxable yearsPersonal service activity (non income-producing) for three of the previous taxable yearsRegular, continuous, provable participation in the business for more than 100 hoursA Cautionary Tale: The Story of JacksonLet's take a moment to learn from the mistakes of others.

@Gisell GarciaI use zelle and deposit only cards.