The exception (according to previous SEC attorney's post here on BP) is if you raised that from a single person.

Is there any reason for tenants to use the basement; laundry, storage?

And if there's an authorized pet with a $30/mo fee that caused no damage but the previously-unauthorized-but-now-authorized pet did cause damage, do both $30/mo fees become nonrefundable?

Now he has a 'mgt office' at his self storage complex, but when we had lunch last week he was off to show a unit. 93 yrs old! 

It doesn't matter how "passive" or "active" you are in completing these activities, they'll be taxed as I indicated in the previous two sentences.Now, the number of hours of active investing DOES apply to your status as a "real estate professional." 

If the rental is treated as a separate property from the primary residence, would the tax treatment be different than previously described?

I’ve been interested in Real Estate since college when I took a RE economics class and fell in love with the opportunity it presented.

I have, however, a somewhat close relationship with the landlord I've rented from for the 8 years previous to buying my house, so somewhat familiar with the in's and out's and frustrations of rental properties.I'm just getting my toes wet and listening to YouTube videos, podcasts, reading content on the site, etc.

I was referencing the immediately previous post.Two requirements to fully defer all tax - Purchase at least as much as your net sale and use all of the proceeds.If you use all the proceeds and add some of your own cash to it you can still purchase at  least as much as you sold. 

Outside of those reports, another great method to screen is to call previous landlords as references and verify their employment by calling a manager/supervisor.