Before that, I engaged in the Vero Beach, FL condo market, but opted to sell my properties there due to weather and rising HOA fees.

Hi Tax masters,I have a question about the county mortgage tax when purchasing a property.I'm quoting a mortgage from 3 lenders for a small multi-family in Bushwick/Ridgewood area (Brooklyn NY), and one of them estimated the county mortgage tax in their quote when the other 2 didn't.If anyone has some knowledges to share with this, I would appreciate it.

Still analyzing every day but having trouble finding deals that cash flow after rehab, especially with the property taxes.

please suggest to avoid gain tax and avoid being labeled as dealer by IRS?

@John Michael RobersonI agree with @Kory Reynolds: tax-wise, it is a workable plan, as long as you are hands-off, which in technical terms is known as failing material participation.I would caution however against focusing strictly on taxes.

Prior to purchasing an investment property, is it fair to ask to interview the current tenants in place as part of the due diligence? 

I also feel like there are potential tax benefits to a loan instead of contribution/distribution.

And for over 10 years, I have been in multifamily affordable housing development, and I am very familiar with asset management, property management, construction, and tax credit financing.

We are looking for a new CPA, after many years with the same place, due to the ball being dropped too many times.

You can't really understand what is happening here unless you create a process of elimination Stains area most likely due to water penetration.