It will do NOTHING to help the economy, but cost the taxpayers a bundle.

It's very easy to book a quick flight to Mexico at the taxpayer's expense and go and check on what's going on the ground.

No credit check or rent required (except from the US taxpayer).

No I have no idea why the Service decided on these rules other than pre-empting some kind of tax payer abuse.  

Account Closed gifts in excess of $14k annually are not taxed as long as the lifetime gift exclusion ($5,490,000 for 2017) is still available for the taxpayer.

That situation just moved dependency from parents to the government ( tax payers)

Counties and cities want to post bonds because of last downturn the roads on failed projects went unfinished and they were stuck with finishing out roads at taxpayer expense.You didn't mention topography of the land.

Lets see , $25,000 to first time home buyers , plus forgiving student dept , nice way to buy votes with tax payers money .

Originally posted by @Jay Hinrichs:Originally posted by @Greg O'Brien:@Jay Hinrichs sorry REP is Real Estate Professional (the tax definiton of one).If a taxpayer is a LP and does not meet REP nor Materially Participate under IRC 469, your excess losses would become suspended but ultimately utilized and released upon sale of the activity or from offsetting passive income from passive activities.however if he/she does meet the definition of REP  then they can participate in the cost seg bonus deprecation correct ? 

For example, in NY, default searches include county & municipal - open permits, Cert of Occupancy, outstanding tax payments and any tax related liens.