I recently dealt with an eviction and associated unpaid utility bills on a KCMO SFR LTR near St Pius HS, and the utility company confirmed that the bill follows the tenant if in tenant name.

I pay all utilities. 

Take all the costs including utilities and see if you can cover things with a rental inclusive of utilities and still make a profit.

Is the only way to effectively utilize equity to buy the property outright so I would only be paying the interest on the loan leveraged on the equity?

Do any STR tenants pay utilities?

This means the average stay at your property cannot be more than 7 days, you will need to pass the tests of Material Participation or being a Real Estate Professional, and keep a log of the hours you spend performing “activities” for the real estate.In order to Material Participate, you need to pass one of the seven tests for Material Participation on the property.

With our twelfth STR closed or under contract including several prime luxury STRs on the Oregon Coast this year - I thought it would be prudent to share some answers to common questions regarding LLC Closings or transferring properties to an LLC or Trust post closing as we approach the close the window on material participation for 2025. 

Look for evidence of SOPs for smart-home technology to curb utility use, bulk buying of supplies, or in-house maintenance teams that reduce reliance on expensive third-party contractors for common fixes.What types of properties do you manage?

All rehab costs, materials, utilities, loan interest, and property taxes are deductible business expenses.

Do you have any recommendations on courses, books, or materials to learn from?