We purchased these under two different corps to prevent an automatic title merger, but now we hope to merge them after all. 

If you're building a new construction, it automatically makes it A class asset, so there's no value add to new construction. 

The backyard was completely redone, new retaining walls, side garden with automatic watering, etc.

The 750 hours is part of the qualification.(1) 750 hours and (2) more than half of personal services performed in all trades or businesses during the tax year were performed in "real property trades or businesses".She could become a real estate agent and work more than 750 hours doing that, but just qualifying your wife as a real estate professional doesn't automatically make the rental real estate losses non-passive. 

First, unless ta REA is an investor (and that doesn't automatically mean they know what they are doing as an investor) REA's are not a good source of knowledge of "how to invest". 

The one not so easy part is remembering to switch back to the free account within 30 days or they will automatically charge me for an additional month that I don't need.

Note that IRS Form 1099 is automatically self employment, per the IRS tax code.

This is something very new to me, and of course. like you mention would help on the $800 we automatically pay each year. 

@Rocco Swinney This is my understanding...interest you pay on a cash out refi on a rental property does not automatically become deductible simply because the cash out refi was done on a rental.

After entering all of the info on the rentals calculator, it does not automatically go to the results page, I then have to go back to the calculator and click on upload previous results.