For those managing active income streams—like wholesaling, flipping, or even running a real estate business—filing as an S-Corp can significantly reduce self-employment taxes.

I honestly wouldn't even trust anything QB is telling you when it comes to taxes.You're in a partnership, which acts like a conduit to pass through the income/loss of the activity to the individual owners.

What actions and/or credentials make a landlord an active property manager to deem rental income/loss active in CA?

It's clear that is something you're actively doing as well! 

The only development left for this part of the project is to add a new 12-story sewer interceptor to the tunnel, with completion set for 2025, at which point the plans for a new mixed-use community can go forward at the Robinson Terminal long abandoned warehouse, where the infrastructure connecting the tunnel to the river has been taking place.There is no doubt that the Potomac River turning swimmable and fishable, along with the already spectacular views, that properties and activities along the waterfront will become much more attractive to locals and tourists.

Don't try to build a buyer's list with no experience and no active under contract.

Here’s why and what alternatives might exist:Real Estate Syndication or Fund: Invest in funds that generate passive rental income, which can offset Schedule E losses.Real Estate Professional (REPS): Qualify for REPS to reclassify rental losses as non-passive, allowing them to offset active income.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.

I'm an active-duty military (retiring soon).

If your realtor is listing it for free and not helping, that's not much help since leaving you to screen tenants and run through leads is like asking you to perform knee surgery, you don't know what you are doing.All rental listings should get bombarded on Zillow Rental Manager and HotPads, etc in the first week so if you have limited activity, your price is either too high or the photos are bad and the copy about the place is bad.Use something like RentSpree from screening.

Focus on connecting with investors, flippers, and landlords who are actively buying.