As long as you are honest with yourself and them, you have nothing to be ashamed of.The same people that walk into a financial advisors office at 58 and say, hey I have to start saving so I can retire at 65 are going to be those ladies you are worried about 20 years down the road.

Has anyone successfully filed an tax return as a Real Estate Professional while managing a purely NNN portfolio?
If so, what activities did you document to prove that you materially participated in active managememt?

It includes details on how to select markets, establish criteria for selecting properties, due diligence and underwriting, etc. 

More then that, we just established new rents for our new and old tenants, and they are ok with it.

Should I continue to invest in my hometown given that the numbers work for cash flow, I have established connections, and I know the market?

I just wasn’t sure if the i/o angle was beneficial or not but I don’t really see a down side to it especially since it’s the only establishment that will let me use my investment property for a HELOC

This is to protect the developer's interests (money) until the last unit is sold by including at least one clause that establishes a min sale price by any member). 

Get a scenario analysis from a Financial Advisor.  

Bottom line is, you should be talking to your tax advisor on your issue if you really want to personalized tax strategy.  

I'm not sure about the laws in your state, but in CA, if it is established that you knowingly did not enforce certain aspects of your lease, they become null.