The first tax benefit of real estate is that the cash-flow and appreciation grow tax free(in general).Cash flow will likely be offset by depreciation and appreciation is not taxed.If you are making 8% on real estate(combined cash flow and appreciation), you money will double  in 9 years.If you make 12% on real estate, your money will double in 6 years.There are other strategies in real estate(time involved in real estate) where you can create 'paper-losses' to decrease your W-2 wages, interest, dividends.I normally don't like this route too much as I think people can focus their time and attention more on other tasks that can generate a higher hourly return.Best of luck.

We meet on the last Wednesday of every month at Pig Pounder Brewery at 6pm. 

@Casey AdamsReach out to @John Mocker and try an independent broker to get a couple different P&C options your pain is universal lots of losses for carriers and someone has to pay 

And last, but not least, find a Realtor that is a fellow investor in your market.

That was never going to last. 

If you show a loss on your schedule E, the lender may decide to hit you with the full payment as a rental loss. 

This is a complete remodel with updated windows and mechanicals within the last 5 years. 

*IF* you can claim RE professional status - and this is where doing your own management comes in, if one of you doesn't have a regular W2 job - you can realize some major tax savings, especially because you can deduct any losses from the RE side from your W2 income.

For example, I often see Buyers purchase property thinking there is a $1,000 deposit but then the tenant claims it was actually $2,000 because they paid the last month's rent.

It used to be six months, but it changed to 12 months last year.