@Joe Villeneuve and @David FaulknerThanks for your answers, I knew it was a variety of reasons but I wasn't able to completely pinpoint what those reasons were.

@David Song,  many people here talk midwest market, so getting some variety of view is good. 

I would knock, and say that I was buying houses in the neighborhood and offering a variety of ways to buy the house.

If these are simply garden variety rental properties I would think you would be in the Passive Activity element of the applicable guidance, but see below for the definition of categories and the applicable interest tracing treatment accorded to each.https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/26/1.163-8T

After that's gone they are on their own for coffee.There is also a variety of tea bags and sugar/fauxsugar/creamer.After having a few guests mention how they arrived very late at night after flight delays, etc, I firmly believe not having to leave the VR find coffee that next morning has made a few guests very happy.

It's a good idea to diversify your portfolio with a variety of investment types. 

You should shop around a variety of lenders: local banks, regional banks, national banks, credit unions, Agency lenders (i.e. 

@Alain Perez-MajulThe IRS rules state that when a tax-exempt entity (like an IRA) engages in a trade or business on a regular or repeated basis, then that entity is determined to be competing with tax-paying businesses and therefore subject to UBIT taxation.The reason you see such a variety of opinions on the topic are twofold.  

I went through practice exams from a variety of sources: online classes, study guides from different brokers and different practice exam publishers. 

My advise is to find a knowledgeable and experienced real estate attorney, one who works with a variety of lenders, and pay for his help.