Also prevented us from making wrong statements on our part which would have reduced the claim.3.  

Focus on tax-saving strategies such as cost segregation studies and bonus depreciation to accelerate deductions.By qualifying as a Real Estate Professional (spending 750+ hours annually and materially participating), you can offset your wife’s S-Corp income with real estate losses, reducing your tax liability.

Some might not be livable at purchase but 5k still seems cheap unless there is something off with the data. maybe the prices were reduced on unlivable properties due to back taxes being part of the deal for the purchase.

Disallowed losses under wash sale rules increase the cost basis of replacement securities, potentially reducing future taxable gains.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.

Originally posted by @David Dachtera:@Eric Jones*THAT* is what mortgage acceleration is all about: Reducing the total interest paid while reducing the number of payments. 

Does anyone have a template or method that they use in order to screen tenants effectively in order to reduce the risk of non payment and damage to the property? 

This takes a little more work, but it's the fairest and reduces the likelihood of tenants that squander utilities.If you choose #2 or #3, there are considerations:Start with an average.

After selling one and using a 1031 exchange to buy a fourplex in Chicago, he reduced his interest burden by 20% while boosting his net incomes by $1,500 per month.

We have offered to allow her to pay a reduced rent for the first few months as well but I am worried that may create some sort of limit on how much we can raise the rent on her in the future.

Use your HELOC to purchase the duplex outright for $118K.Your brother’s $50K down payment can immediately go toward reducing your HELOC balance, leaving a remaining balance of $68K.Create a formal lease-to-own agreement with your brother.