You ask me this while we're at the gym trying to blow off steam? 

That was great,very uplifting for those overworked and underpaid.Living check to check,planning on how they will blow their next paycheck instead of budgeting and saving.I know cause that idiot was me

I also just want to point out that, even though you are self employed, you can't just choose to stop writing off certain expenses in order to inflate your net income.While the IRS certainly won't care if you inflate your income and, therefore, the taxes owed, the mortgage company will certainly care that you have over-represented your net income and it's more generally labeled as mortgage fraud.Whoever told you that you "if I want to buy another property, that I cannot write off much this year to show "more" income", was advocating mortgage fraud.If you had 5000 in office supplies, you write off 5000 in office supplies and if you had 6000 in advertising, you write off 6000 in advertising. 

Sam,I have always been a big advocate of IFREC, the Institute for Real Estate Careers.

So many people confuse "tax write off" and "tax deductible" with free and it really blows my mind.

I would advocate buying some properties through other sources, learn the ropes, and one day graduate to the auctions.

I advocate to vacation home owners that they use this type of property manager and do their own short term rental marketing - it's not difficult or time consuming. 

The condo fee includes a master insurance plan that covers damage to the exterior and the common space, for example if a disastrous storm blows off the roof.

@Dave Carella Playing Devil's Advocate here (and this is something I would personally NEVER do) but if they are found outside by themselves without supervision, you can call animal control.

If you want to dispute that, you could then opt for them to do the full blow appraisal and pay for it.