Hey, that's a great question and definitely a smart one to ask when you're diving into the details of STR (short-term rental) investments.Let me break this down from both a tax and practical standpoint based on what I’ve seen with clients in similar situations.

@Nathaniel C. that's a great question and it shows you're planning smart by thinking ahead about the tax implications.

I have had this goal of buying my first duplex and have talked to real estate investors, realtors, lenders, appraisers and have been encouraged so much to where I am anxious to dive into this.Now that I am 18 I have absolutely no debt, a credit score of 727, I have 28k sitting in a certificate of deposit, a couple years of working consistently under my belt, I’ve also been investing in my Roth IRA, I feel very blessed to be in this situation.I am still in high school, I know it wouldn’t be smart to buy a house right now but something in me is so anxious to buy this house I know I have to have patience but I don’t know if I should start the process of getting pre approved, finding a good investor friendly realtor, lender, preparing my documents or if I should just wait.When analyzing deals in my market I have crystal clear real estate deal criteria my strategy is house hacking a duplex, price range of 500,000-600,00 in Salt lake, Utah! 

Speaking to the guys out there for a minute… I think it’s smart to give your wife as much credit for your success as possible.

Using a turnkey condo for short-term rentals on weekends while reducing your commute could be smart, as long as STR income covers costs and local regulations allow it.From tax perspective, if you personally use the STR as you intend, you cannot create losses under vacation home rules.

Texas is affordable, but we are seeing supply increase and demand decrease.Sales are down 8% YOY and average time on market is up 35% YOY.Prices the past 3 months have been slashed pretty substantially.Be safe, invest smart.

WOW this is super smart. 

It's tough when unexpected costs pop up, but those experiences definitely make us sharper for the next deal.Switching gears from renting to selling was a smart move given the circumstances.

I do think new investors suffer from an overabundance of short-term thinking right now.Regarding number 2, I think your takeaway to buy smart is different than a result of wanting to buy more.

Expanding your portfolio in Indiana could be smart due to lower property prices and possibly higher cash flow.