Get a steady income without spiking your debt-to-income ratio... and without having to spend a huge fortune to get a miserable passive income.Then with that money get secured assets like real estate that will always be physically worth something (not just digitally).And that is kids what I am doing now!

If you are set on selling, sounds like you can also do a 1031 exchange to defer capital gains tax on the sell which would strengthen your buying power as well.

Both working okay/fine paying jobs, both worked through school so no student debt, driving old cars so no car payments

No taxes on capital gains if you have lived in your primary residence 2 of 5 years

Then later find out in underwriting that the loan officer did not calculate income correctly or used rents that do not qualify.You want to ask to see the math to see how are they running the approval it’s not just income, and rents it’s also what are the annual taxes and annual home owners insurance they are using to qualify.

Split it down the middle and work it like a true partnership where the interest payment, tax, insurance comes out of the entity.

I’m curious as to the thoughts of a CPA here given the differences in tax implications generally between NJ and FL.

It also simplifies estate planning by ensuring properties can be passed to heirs debt-free.

I'm also hesitant to bet heavily on permanent tax deferral strategies (e.g., "buy, borrow, die") as a lot could change about the tax code over my lifetime.

Listing prices/property taxes are awesome and rent prices look good as well.