A number of rentals that rise to the level of a trade or business doesn't automatically make the rental income subject to SE taxes...I agree with the other tax pros on this thread that your CPA doesn't seem to be giving good answers relating to trade or business case law, and that you may want to consider filing an extension and interviewing a few new CPAs/EAs in May or June.

I would think the temperature changes would cause trouble and if that is not the case then will lenders approve an inspection where this is noted?

Until they get the flood insurance market stable, though, I avoid flood zones unless it's a super deal and/or I can pay off mortgage if rates rise too much. 

@Devin TangRead the below article.https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/29/home-prices-rise-a...I'm in accounting and finance, so basically a numbers person.

You can still find a house with a yard up here in your price range although the prices are continuing to rise and some neighborhoods are not as nice as they could be.

Hopefully the market continues to rise and I can cash out in a few years.Currently I’m renting and I don’t mind it but I eventually want to make a move towards one of my options.

Ton of tech companies coming, awesome universities churning out highly qualified grads, low COL and housing available and stable/rising population growth. 

After two years, with housing prices in Seattle going down and prices maintaining or rising in Tacoma, this seems to have had some merit.

:https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/05/rising-interest-ra...

You could find that not only do you gain a better deal (discount / profit at the point of purchase) and better cash flow (profit you can spend or use in the future to enable refinance and draw down a tax free lump sum) but also gain from a faster rise in capital value outside of London.