For what it is worth I had a client cost seg their AirBnB in Gaitlinburg and it reduced their taxes owed by 26K. 

The better option is for the Seller to pay your closing costs.

When you do repair cost do you do minimal repairs or upgrades?

Lenders typically prefer to offer loans when the property is cash-flowing; if the DSCR is under 1, it might still be possible to get a loan, but expect less favorable terms.Understanding these elements will help you better prepare for securing a DSCR loan, allowing you to leverage your rental properties effectively for further real estate investments. 

Tenant Management: What have you learned about managing tenants effectively while sharing the same property?

(which I like) so I would like someone with local experience rather than be the farthest flung property for a city-focused PM (if they'd even do it) and potentially become neglected or incur higher costs because of distance and/or unfamiliarity.A little help?

Depending on how big this unit is, I would probably bite the bullet and pay for the relocation, then add a washer/dryer and raise the rent by some amount to cover the cost.

If you have an entity with an EIN, and that entity either owns the property (named on title) or constructively owns the rental, then use that.Otherwise, then SSN.Ultimately this has very little effect on the tax return, liability, etc.

There are plenty of dated condos in my town that cost between $275-350K which could easily use $100K worth of renovation.

what are the   fees /  costs  associated  with the  1st mtg  refinance ?