And that was my understanding (the basics, at least :-)...Given that, the scenario that Bob presented in Deal 3 above seems unlikely to play out legally...

Is this the best play here?

The IRS is the other way around.Your bonus depreciation, assuming you're eligible for it, is not pro-rated.

Sometimes having someone play devil's advocate is also useful.

Two factors at play here.1) STRs generally appraise as residential homes, not as businesses based on multiples. 

To me, the best play out there right now is to go with the smaller cabins. 

@Nina Ning I do not play detective or require past rental payments to qualify for my units.

Playing it safe might mean walking away if the numbers can’t improve.

Keep in mind that you'll need to qualify full doc (DTI, employment history and income will all come into play) and the property typically needs to be titled to yur personal name, not an entity. 

You can't expect to get the same results investors were getting in 2018.You can play with the numbers a little, but be careful.