The one that im considering to join is just transaction basis.

Use that to take a step forward every day, and I hope that you end up going further than you could've even imagined! 

In theory, if I claim 100% of the cost basis as the price we paid for the apartment, the IRS could make the argument that there has just got to be SOME land underneath that apartment somewhere, and therefore I must have some part of it.

How many listings can I expect if I call 5 hours a day every day? 

The heart of the question I'm asking is can this: Do we have ability to get into the position of this new investor on the basis that the seller didn't have the legal right to sell the property to him?

Please see you tax professional.......if they can't find them, please see a BETTER tax professional........Essentially, by structuring this way, you have raised your tax basis in the property as well. 

It's giving a toll in our everyday commute to and from work (40 miles away).

And she told me how hot the local RE market is in Boise, with everything going up every day...Well, for those of us in the Bay Area, RE price peaked in 2018, and has been dropping 10% ish since....

Use separate savings/escrow accounts depending on your state laws for security deposits, open a savings account to put aside cap ex and maintenance and put the rest through a checking account for deposits and everyday expenses.

They are located out of state and her taxes are much higher than mine on an individual property basis, but she doesn't make much from two in comparison to me, around 1,800 per month I think.