Can I deduct this trip as a business expense if i do not technically own a business?

However, you'll need their address anyway to send an accounting of security deposit deductions, which is required even if you're not returning any of their deposit.They may know they're not getting any of their security deposit back and refuse to provide a forwarding address to you, in which case you still have to mail the accounting statement to their last known address (which would be your rental property). 

That enables the interest paid on the loan to be tax deductible.

This is not part of a standard real estate contract from any state I have heard of.

Since it was going to be our primary residence, our standards were probably slightly different than they would have been if it were just an investment property, but we found that most multi-family properties in the Houston area are being town down and replaced with townhomes.

They mostly use the same standard container size (20'x8' or 40'x8') to keep the shipping cost low.

There isn’t really an issue with you investing and also practicing RE in your home state as along as you abide by the ethics and standards you pledge to uphold when applying for you RE license.

In the San Francsico Bay Area 5000 square feet is a standard sized residential lot size except directly around San Francisco the lots are typically smaller than 5000 square feet.

Landlords Cannot Take New Pass-Thru Deduction!

I purchased a home last year and the insurance company (Allstate) contacted me a few months after closing stating they did a random drive by and my roof didn't meet their standards and I'd be dropped from the policy if a few minor issues weren't corrected.