The same question that hunts me every year raised its ugly head once again.Issue #1:I have two times of expenses, routine maintenance that sometimes is quite costly .. like labor and materials to repair main sewer .. or upgrading the unit after its vacated.Second category is rehabbing trashed new acquisition.IRS rule is relatively simple: If the item has short life span .. like a gasket or so .. labor and materials can be expensed in the same year.

As far as your biggest question goes, how to find the deal, there are numerous ways.

In the spirit of simplicity: are the categories for "Start a topic" up for revision, by any chance?

There are filing nuances within those categories also.

I think I have managed to wade through numerous threads and postings on other sites about the ins and outs of deducting vs depreciating costs associated with putting my property into service.My understanding is that any and all costs...even if they would typically be deductible repairs were my unit to be currently rented or in-between renters must be rolled into the basis of my purchase and subsequently depreciated.

I'm no techie, but seems you could open a word program, read here and make notes in categories and compile some very good information.

Because we no longer have groups here on the site, but have a need for our members to discuss issues that sometimes may be sticky - like politics (a real estate site does need a place to discuss politics and policy) - we've taken our Off-Topic Forum and made it one that only shows up in both your dashboard forum feed and your forum feed if you elect to opt-in.You can always go directly to the Off-Topic area via the View All Forums page or via our 'Jump to Category' forum nav, but for those who want to keep up with the latest posts from this forum in your feeds, here's how.Just go to your Settings page and click on the FORUM settings tab.

With numerous bank related issues pushing the calendar date farther and farther.The deal starting at $182,500.

If there are actual deals being split/networked then that would put "Mogul" in an entirely different category for me.

I missed a few key points, one of them being a roommate vs a full house tenant.Perhaps, it may be extreme, and I see your point, which is based on your experience on being on the other end of the arrangement.This particular person is self employed, has no prior landlords, is hesitant on filling out the rental app, and is in a rush to move in....I definitely know I am bias after having the numerous episodes I've gone through as a landlord throughout the years, and in this particular case I would run this person through the ringer if not just deny them outright....Although this is a little different in a roommate situation, as a Landlord you have the professional obligation to thoroughly and completely checkout their entire story especially when its off to begin with...If they dislike it, then perhaps they should get their life together. and was this really the person you wanted in your place anyway?