If the activity is considred active, then there is an opportunity to increase the loss through the purchase of a cost segregation study which would increase the depreciation into the earlier years.

And this is a general status of things across the board for REI, the bar of professionalism has GREATLY increased. 

With the latter you have much greater control over, better returns and also could use leverage to increase your returns.

Its that simple

That's just not the case.Industry is also becoming increasingly diversified.

In addition, the housing markets in many parts of the country have been increasing steadily, if not briskly, for almost a generation without any significant re-alignment to the underlaying economic reality.  

The last one can be as simple as runners who are local and can help with simple errands to full service property managers.

It is not that simple and it looks like the builder already factor in a 200K (3Ksf x 200/sf).

If it's within friends and family then probably a simple (preferably attorney drawn) agreement/contract will do. 

All of this has lead to lower crime rates and increasing property values.