This is an out of state deal so I can’t just drive up and take a peek.

I found the property driving around "driving for dollars".

My property manager isn’t up to speed on it, and I am a 6 hour drive from the property.

George, employers are important but all those smaller towns you named attract retirees that don't like to drive in big cites and need to be near doctors and social activities.

The type of self-directed IRA that will best suit your situation and goals will drive the process of identifying the right firm to work with.A self-directed IRA custodian is a processing entity.

They were all on the same block, so that cut down on wasted driving time. 

If not I recommend you start listening to those daily while you drive around and in your spare time. 

People are experiential in nature and most of the masses want to drive out and do activities with family and friends multiple times a week.

My tenants utilize an online payment app (Roof), I run credit and background checks online (SmartMove) and keep all of my records in a folder on Google Drive.

This stands in direct opposition to a capital intensive industry such as manufacturing where employee and owner skill may be less important than the company's fixed asset profile.While S179 is a valid strategy in the attempt to drive a taxpayer's taxable income below the 'threshold amount' so the SSTB receives the un-phased out Sec 199A deduction, a SSTB may not have the investments in fixed assets necessary to drive them below the threshold during the year unless they're already very close to the threshold.Some other ideas for taxpayers owning a SSTB to lower their taxable income:Roll taxable bonds into tax-exempt bonds.Life insurance & annuities.Real estate (it's BP after all).Oil and gas investments.Charitable gifts (including CRTs).Gifts to taxpayers with lower taxable income (powerful option is to gift a percentage of the business to a trust).If a SSTB is well above the threshold, a compelling case could be made that the business should be a C Corp in the current tax environment.