Some, like ours, focus on offering optional services such as renters insurance or washer/dryer rentals without requiring tenants to opt into a full package.When choosing a property manager, I recommend asking about the structure and purpose of any fees.

When it comes to real estate, here's a general list of eligible assets and their depreciable lifespans that you should know: Residential Rental Property = 27.5 yearsThis includes any building or structure where 80% or more of its gross rental income is from residential units.That means:- Apartment buildings- Single-family rental homes- Duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes- Mobile homes (used for residential rental)- Any kind of residential lodging facility where the primary purpose is long-term rentalCommercial Property = 39 yearsThis includes non-residential properties like:-Office buildings-Retail stores and shopping centers-Warehouses-Industrial complexes-Hotels and motels that do not qualify as residential rental propertyLand Improvements = 15 yearsThese include sidewalks, roads, fencing, some landscaping, and parking lots that are separate from the building.Personal Property = 5 or 7 yearsPersonal property used in a rental activity usually has a 5 or 7-year life.This includes most furniture, appliances, carpeting and various machinery.Qualified Improvement Property (QIP) = 15 yearsGenerally, this includes any improvements made to the interior of a non-residential building after the building was placed in service, excluding elevators, enlargements, and the internal structural framework.Computers and Related Peripheral Equipment = 5 yearsVehicles = 5 yearsNote that the land itself is not depreciable.

Our lender has informed us that we need 12 months of rental history to use the actual rent for financing purposes, or we must rely on the appraiser's fair market short term rental value.

This ensures a clean transition of ownership and responsibility for insurance purposes.

The longer you hold the property for investment the easier it is to demonstrate that you did in fact intend to hold the property for rental or investment purposes. 

Suggestions like driving by the houses weekly are silly, such trips serve no legitimate business purpose. 

Over the past decade, I’ve built and managed purpose-driven homes in CA that serve communities while generating stable, long-term cash flow.In addition to running care homes, I also consult with aspiring care home owners across multiple states, including Texas, Arizona, and Michigan (Detroit area).

My investments were all what they termed private placement and was essentially funds used for lending, buying notes and recently land trust.After MIdland sprun this on us, my spouse also has accounts, I did some research but didn't see a purpose to remove our accounts at the time.I have not been with ET long enough to give comment on them and what little "issues" occured were technical.

I wouldn't recommend this for research purposes. 

For bookkeeping purposes, I recommend designating a separate bank account exclusive to the house hack activities to keep some sanity.