The amount my tenant is paying me per month only cover 95% of my mortgage, HOA, and taxes. 

Probably,because they need to get their tax dollars. 

Highly pressured sales tactics at there 3 day events they do all over the US to get you wrapped into their high dollar coaching programs. Then when you don't have the money for them they coerce you into getting credit...

The wife did his tax return in 2018 Gross $120k.

So the monthly rent payments received will not cover mortgage payments, insurance, property taxes, repairs, maintenance, etc, and to avoid default the owner will be required to “come out of pocket” for the negative difference. 

For primary residences, lenders typically don't require PITI (Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance) reserves beyond the down payment and closing costs.

However, you could still have - cashflow on paper, but still break even or potentially have + cashflow on your taxes.

Since we have zero income, I'm not inclined to pay a CPA several hundred dollars to do our taxes, so I'm trying to do it myself. 

This tax provision allows homeowners to rent out their space for up to 14 days per year without reporting the income or paying taxes on it!

I have a tax question.