I am fairly confident in stating that I will most likely not qualify for the QBID. Rental income is not my primary source of income, and while my wife works a W-2 job I am self-employed. That's where a majority of our spendable and taxable income comes from. So I just don't see how my three rentals would qualify as a trade or business.
On the other side of that coin, my sister owns 7 rentals and is also a licensed real estate agent. Even though she reports her rentals on SCH E separate from the RE agent income, her rentals may very well qualify as a trade or business, or at least as "a part of" her trade or business. But I really can't say for sure at this point. Mainly because she hasn't asked yet. 🙂
