Rental real estate purchases and taxes.

[badmomma]

I am curious to know if I buy a property to rent out how do I handle it on my taxes. If I don't live there it won't have the homestead tax rate.
I have never owned rental real estate before and am unsure of how you would handle that part of the ownership.
I just want to get all my ducks in a row before I jump in and get my feet wet. I really don't want to make any big mistakes that will hurt me.
I want to do this and am unsure of what I need to know. Any suggestions?