Over the years, I’ve noticed something interesting working with investors:The biggest tax mistakes usually don’t come from shady strategies or bad CPAs…They come from poor recordkeeping and timing.Here’s what I mean A lot of investors don’t track which expenses are repairs (deduct now) and which are improvements (depreciate later).They toss all the receipts into a box or an app and hope it sorts itself out in March.Then when tax season hits, they realize half of those costs could’ve been handled differently — maybe deducted sooner or even structured better if they’d planned a few months ahead.The IRS doesn’t just care what you spent… it cares how you report it.

Pull zoning + allowable usesLook up:Current zoning districtDensity allowedBuilding height limitsWhether multifamily or mixed-use is permittedIf upzoning is even realisticIf the parcel is zoned residential but everything around it is already commercial or multifamily, the city may be open to rezoning, but don’t assume it.2.

We’re sitting at 3,411 active listings, and the slow winter season still isn’t producing the usual rise.

In a perfect world, I’d live in the smaller unit and rent out the larger one, or maybe even run an Airbnb if the property makes senseI’m looking for a mix of cash flow and stability/appreciation.

To truly gain a competitive edge and step ahead of the masses, you must understand the micro-market: the specific neighborhood, the street, and the block.This is precisely why seasoned investors recommend partnering with a specialized agent—someone who doesn't just know the city, but lives and breathes the specific pockets where you intend to buy.

We always have seasonality with rent prices coming down in the fall, but it feels like a little more than normal this year.

That mix of excitement and “oh no, what did we just do?”

Mixed-use strategy (stacking revenue streams)Instead of relying solely on ag rent, some owners combine:Seasonal hunting leasesTimber thinning/harvest (if applicable)Short-term camping/RV sites (Hipcamp, Tentrr, etc.)Local farmers who pay premiums for specialty use (e.g., grazing rotations)None of these individually cover a note, but together they often get close.2.

Plenty of investors use a mix of education, networking, and a strong agent partnership because each one brings something different to the table.For someone buying their first place with plans to convert it to a rental later, having guidance on property type and future rental eligibility can make a big difference.

The way I see it is that in the first phase I risked myself by providing the funds, and he risked himself by securing a loan, and after renting out the place, seasoning it, and refinancing (call it phase 2) we should be at equal footing, so I believe I deserve to have my equity returned first and only then we split the profits 50/50.The Question:For those who have structured Money/Sweat partnerships like this: How do you compensate the Money Partner for the equity left in the deal?