It is all a recipe for disaster that plays out time and time again ... why I always advise to get some hands on experience in your own backyard before venturing out ... but you know what happens then?

So, being the chipper and energetic lad that I am decided to venture into the great unknown and go knock on the door.

I'm not a pro at this by any means but I'm gonna venture and say yes it is an expense that you will be able to deduct on taxes. 

There are no investments that are guaranteed, and as a new investor, especially , there are more opportunities for you to lose money on this first go-round, especially if you go the DIY route (it's a learning curve for everyone).

Intention is to have a parent holding LLC with subsidiary LLCs to hold assets, form joint ventures and possibly one as a holder of interests in foreign entities (we may do some investing in South America too).My wife/partner is a foreign national in the US and does not have any US based documentation (no Tax ID, no Green Card, no SSN, etc) at this stage but we do intend for her to get residency documents in the next couple years.The plan now is to incorporate the LLC(s) beginning in January with myself holding 50% and my foreign national wife holding 50%.  

But I am a DIY tightwad.  

It’s nice to read everyone’s personal goals in real estate and other business ventures. 

Good luck in your ventures!!!!!!

They have $70 million worth of venture capital, so they are probably not going to go bankrupt anytime soon.

., that was the direction I was leaning between the two but I heard that lifting the house was to much for a diy project.