So I am reading what Account Closed posted and IF I am understanding correctly, when I start taking SSI and say I had 30K of rental income that showed as a 'tax loss' due to depreciation etc... and I took another 30K from my ROTH IRA, NEITHER of those sources of income would count towards making SSI partially taxable?

Also, the Government has put a moratorium on evictions, so Landlords are stuck eating the loss. 

I am very eager to start building my real estate portfolio, yet I am at a loss of where to start considering I don’t have that much money and will still be attending school this fall .

Make sure that she qualifies with the hours for materially participating in the real estate activity on your properties, in order to be able to claim those losses as non-passive.That being said, believe it or not the top two property types for bonus depreciation are Mobile Home Parks and Golf Courses, because they are mainly 'land improvements' that depreciate on a 15-year schedule and qualify for 100% bonus depreciation.But it sounds like you are more interested in SFR or small MF, the larger cost basis, will proportionately give you more depreciation.

You should definitely talk to an accountant, but there's no reason the paper losses for your rentals wouldn't offset your W2 income.

Particularly sellers who are in some kind of financial distress or are otherwise motivated to sell (probate, foreclosure, job loss, divorce, etc). 

Does anyone have any advice on the feasibility of not classifying the property as an investment property to depreciate or write off expenses such as furniture, dishes, insurance etc, & just collecting monthly rent on your property for a regularly classified home?

It will take you 28 months of an extra $50 per month to make up for that $1400 loss. 

Research & Feasibility - This is where you find out if you can build what you want, where you want.

Review the T-12 (Profit & Loss Statement)3.