:mrgreen: I know I'm putting in heavy hours but seeing it build in front of my eyes is one of the most satisfying experiences of my life.

Note: For both criteria described above, by combining activities into one real property trade or business, the more likely the combined hours spent on the grouped business will satisfy the material participation requirement. 

Are you satisfied with the quality, timeliness and cost for the repairs?

@Alexander Spira A taxpayer qualifies as a real estate professional if (1) more than one-half of the personal services the taxpayer performs in trades or businesses during the tax year are in real property trades or businesses in which the taxpayer materially participates, and (2) hours spent providing personal services in real property trades or businesses in which the taxpayer materially participates total more than 750 during the tax year.You have to meet both tests not just satisfy the 750 hours.

By that time I'd already spent 2x the local appraisal amount to satisfy them.

I would be a liar if I said all of them were completely, 100% satisfied with their investment.  

I think that may avoid the tax implications and satisfy a judge if there was a question of whether it was a deposit or not.Just thinking outside the box a little.

., former employer 401k) to a solo 401k are not reported on Form 5498, but rather on Form 5500-EZ, but only if the air market value of the solo 401k exceeds $250K as of the end of the plan year (generally 12/31);When funds are rolled over or transferred from an IRA or 401k to a self-directed IRA, the amount deposited into the self-directed IRA is reported on Form 5498 by the receiving self-directed IRA custodian by May of the year following the rollover/transfer.Rollovers (provided the 60 day rollover window is satisfied) from an IRA to a Solo 401k or self-directed IRA are reported on lines 15a and 15b of Form 1040;Pre-tax IRA contributions on reported on line 32 of Form 1040;Pre-tax solo 401k contributions are reported on line 28 of Form 1040;Roth solo 401k funds are subject to RMDs;A Roth 401k may be transferred to a Roth IRA (Note that from a planning perspective, it may be advantageous to transfer Roth Solo 401k funds to a Roth IRA before turning age 70 ½ in order to escape the Roth RMD requirement applicable to Roth 401k contributions including Roth Solo 401k contributions and earnings.)

Are you saying type - x fire rated drywall won't satisfy your local code? 

Any outstanding loans would be satisfied from the cash value of the policy.