If there’s an escrow account created with the initial home purchase, do you create a second account when you rent the home out?

I suggest sending the notice, including the details of the lease stating what their responsibilities are.

Home prices are high here so I'm really leaning towards investing out of state or in a different part of Florida to create cash flow vs. buying a personal residence and starting my savings over from scratch to invest.Don't get me wrong, I really want to buy a place of my own that I can live in but the math is making a bit more sense to me if I invest first.

If a taxpayer does not satisfy section 6.01(1)(a)(i) of this revenue procedure for an item of depreciable or amortizable property because this item of property is placed in service by the taxpayer in the taxable year immediately preceding the year of change (“1-year depreciable property”), the taxpayer may change from the impermissible method of determining depreciation to the permissible method of determining depreciation for the 1-year depreciable property by filing a Form 3115 for this change, provided the § 481(a) adjustment reported on the Form 3115 includes the amount of any adjustment that is attributable to all property (including the 1-year depreciable property) subject to the Form 3115.

To answer your question, the most cost-effective way to create an LLC is to do it yourself, but I wouldn't recommend that. 

We think this will create more value than dressing up the existing small master bath and keeping the 4th bedroom.  

Keep in mind that depending on what market you are looking at, those 2-4 unit buildings may be houses that were haphazardly subdivided to create more units.  

In contrast, if you buy a rental-ready property with a 30% down payment, you miss the opportunity to create equity.

I have been in talks with a GC in Georgia and his method of building is: He builds everything at costs and doesn't include any markup or fees, he oversees everything, I only supply funding, and we split 50/50 the profits after paying back the bank and all other associated fees.Since I am only supplying the funding for the deal, is there a way I can structure doing this so that this is considered passive income for myself since I won't be involved with the construction or overseeing the project?

You must generally file Form 3115, Application for Change in Accounting Method, to request a change in your method of accounting for depreciation.The following are examples of a change in method of accounting for depreciation.A change from an impermissible method of determining depreciation for depreciable property if the impermissible method was used in two or more consecutively filed tax returns.A change in the treatment of an asset from nondepreciable to depreciable or vice versa.A change in the depreciation method, period of recovery, or convention of a depreciable asset.A change from not claiming to claiming the special depreciation allowance if you did not make the election to not claim any special allowance.A change from claiming a 50% special depreciation allowance to claiming a 100% special depreciation allowance for qualified property acquired and placed in service by you after September 27, 2017 (if you did not make the election under section 168(k)(10) to claim a 50% special depreciation allowance).Changes in depreciation that are not a change in method of accounting (and may only be made on an amended return) include the following.An adjustment in the useful life of a depreciable asset for which depreciation is determined under section 167.A change in use of an asset in the hands of the same taxpayer.Making a late depreciation election or revoking a timely valid depreciation election (including the election not to deduct the special depreciation allowance).