And that’s too bad, because the concept can lend “clarity of purpose” for many investors.Often, we in the real estate arena, get caught up in our real estate “business”, with an emphasis on “cash flow” or “spendable” income, the professional investors equivalent to salary for the wage earner  and met income to the small business owner.  

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

They are also a great way to meet people and network. 

Networking with some local investors/contractors in the area who may have experience or knowledge in this area might be the best bet. 

Readers are advised to seek professional advice.

However, it is important to consult with a legal professional or tax advisor to ensure that this arrangement is feasible and complies with all applicable laws and regulations.

Recommendation would be to have a professional look over your situation. 

A 401K loan would probably be your best bet since any interest you pay on the loan usually goes back into your 401K account so it's essentially interest-free.If that's not an option here's an interesting article about different funding options using retirement accounts: https://www.moneycrashers.com/401k-ira-withdrawal-...I'm not a tax or accounting professional and you should probably talk to one to get the best mitigation of potential tax liabilities.

I'm curious what experiences people have had taking tax deductions as a non-professional REI.

For example, if you dedicate enough time to real estate businesses and real property trades, you may qualify for the real estate professional tax status which is potentially a great way to reduce high W2 taxes.