. #2 sounds reasonable/legitimate

Some major pending (and potentially retroactive) tax law changes made it through the house. 

Just curious as to (on average) how much everyone pays for their year end tax filing from a CPA who handles REI's or how much someone should expect to pay for this? 

Those in the asset protection or tax field, what are your thoughts?!

One way or another, you will want to sell within 3 years after moving out so you do not lose the tax free gain on sale (up to 250k tax free gains for single and 500k for married).

Potential for increase in rents and appreciation upto 3.5 to 4million in 5-6 years but not sure.Rents at 210k per year for 4 tenants. 50k per year total paid for common area maintenance by all the tenants - which includes property management fees, property tax, insurance, snow removal, other maintenance and misc stuff. 

Of course, if it's that easy of an answer I probably should have been able to find the answer on my own and should probably be charged my stupid/lazy tax for bothering him with it!

These deals will be more passive and you can still get the tax benefits of owning real estate, plus debt paydown and appreciation.

When you do a cash out refinance you pay no taxes and if you put 75% down your rate is going to be in the mid to high 5% right now.

LLCS are sometimes important to the states who won't let you homestead (get a tax break) a property in an LLC.