Remember to factor in the TSP loan payment in your calculations.

@Lauren Keen I am not sure one way or the other if you can take the deduction since I don't have all the facts, but I can tell you that the real estate professional designation is not a requirement to take the home office deduction with respect to a rental activity.There is nothing in §280A (the home office section in the tax code) that mentions being a real estate professional is required in order to take the home office deduction for your rental activity.However, in addition to the rules regarding the space itself, there is the requirement that the taxpayer's rental activities rise to the level of a trade or business, which the Treasury has conveniently never defined for us.But it seems that rental activities would rise to the level of a trade or business if the activities are substantial, regular, and continuous.However, there is a case, Curphey v.

You’ll want to factor in your promotes for putting the deal together as well.Now, the seller may opt not to accept your offer if you have to raise the equity (depends on the seller and market), but it’s worth a shot.  

If your looking to get a 10% return you’ll consider the price, down payment, interest rate, and factor in all other expenses as well.  

I calculated that if we could pay $300 on top of the mortgage each month, we could have enough equity built up by year 2-3 to refinance out of the FHA loan to a conventional loan.Key Factors... 30 year mortgage, 4.25% interest rateI'm still thinking about getting a 15yr fixed rate, payment would just be higher, but mandatory as wellSo, I have a couple questions. 1.

That requires way more experience and designations. 

There are always other factors at play like neighborhood, vintage, market preferences and other factors. 

The real estate professional designation has nothing to do with 1099 reporting. 

No dwelling designed for occupancy by a single family shall be occupied by more than one family, nor shall any such dwelling exceed two and one-half (2-1/2) stories in height.

., it's a factor of scale.