Real Estate Strategies

I remember trying to explain the dealer versus investor concept to a would-be real estate entrepreneur. I asked him whether he was holding the property for sale. He kind of looked at me and smiled and said “Everything is for sale. It just depends on how much.”. If there is any ambiguity it is easy to know what the answer is after the fact. If there was a big gain relative to expenses then you were an investor. If there was a loss, then you were a dealer. Unfortunately, you really are not supposed to practice that way. I am going to assume that you want investor status and that you are blessed with a gain. What can you do to make sure the IRS respects your investor status?

I recently wrote a sort of case study to illustrate the economics of RV tourism . I thought that my fellow tax pros might appreciate a little more analysis of the numbers. I also have some observations on working out of an RV, because I wasn’t actually entirely retired...

The Inflation Reduction Act has brought back and revised credits we have seen before. One of these credits had a $500 lifetime value but now can be $1,200 for each eligible tax year. That is a potential $11,500 increase in savings for your clients. They do not have to build a new house to take advantage of these savings. Taxpayers can receive this credit for improvements made to their home. The tax savings do not stop there. If your client buys an electric vehicle, they are going to need somewhere to charge it, right? Well, the Inflation Reduction Act has considered that, too. Homeowners can save an extra $1,000 on their taxes by installing the charging equipment at home. Let's explore how you can help your non-business clients capitalize on these types of tax savings on these improved energy credits. We will look at both credits now.

This session will cover the basics of tax-efficient real estate strategies, specifically real estate development investments with a conservation easement option. The structure of each type of offering will be outlined in detail. The history of the laws addressing conservation easements will be discussed including an in-depth explanation on the current legislative landscape. Since the nature of each deal is driven by an underlying commodity, details outlining valuation and current market trends will be covered including the appraisal processes. Partnership voting will also be explained.

No doubt you’re familiar with taxes arising from the sale of real estate. Capital gains tax applies whenever anyone sells an asset for profit. A capital gain is the sale price minus your “adjusted basis.” ● The “basis” starts at the price paid for the property; and then: ● ADD the amount that was put into improving the property and; ● SUBTRACT the amount, if any, that you may have “written off” based on depreciation. ● Short term capital gains (within one year of purchase) are taxed as ordinary income. ● Long term capital gains are taxed at a lower rate. (15 percent if your taxable income is less than $501,600.) You’re probably also familiar with the homeowners’ gain exclusion for the sale of your primary residence. This is the spectacular Section 121 exclusion that allows you to exclude up to $500,000 of profit related to the sale of your home ($250,000 if you are single). But you may not be aware of how to claim this exemption on two homes – and you can do it on nontraditional homes such as boats or motorhomes and even vacation homes. Continue reading to learn how.

You have put blood, sweat, and tears into your business and the hard work has finally paid off. Unfortunately, all the success may result in a significant tax bill for family members and very few resources available to pay it. Without an alternative, your business could end up on the chopping block for a fraction of what it is worth. It doesn’t have to be that way! Careful estate planning can result in: 1. Minimization of estate taxes 2. Generation of needed liquidity to satisfy estate expenses Continue reading to learn more!

You may be familiar with the concept of a 1031 exchange as a way to defer gain on the sale of rental or investment real estate. But what happens when you want to completely exit the real estate game? A 1031 Exchange may not be the best option for you. There are a few drawbacks associated with a 1031 exchange, including the limited time frame you must acquire the replacement property, and that you must continue to invest in real estate. If you’re looking to continue deferring current or previously exchanged gains, a Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) may provide a solution to these issues. But investing in a DST property or properties is like any investment. It comes with its own risks and rewards. Read on to find out more.

The 1031 Like-Kind Exchange (LKE) provides a great potential benefit to taxpayers who want to sell rental properties to purchase others in the United States. IRC § 1031 allows you to defer a taxable gain that would normally be taxed at the time of sale of a rental property. However, there are situations when a 1031 exchange may not be the best option for the taxpayer, and it could potentially dilute the tax savings when compared to a traditional sale or other gain minimization strategies. To take advantage of the tax deferral benefits of a 1031 exchange, you’ll need to follow a specific set of guidelines. Here, we will dive into the circumstances that you should review to determine if a 1031 exchange will be the best option in mitigating the taxes you owe.