Achieving Financial Strength Through Real Estate Tax Strategies
The right tax strategy can help you build true wealth because you can deduct hundreds of everyday personal and business expenses and interest payments, generate cash flow from rentals while building equity and realize tax-free capital gains on the sale of primary homes every two years. Any financial portfolio benefits by including real estate to hedge and balance the investments.
In real estate, agents espouse the mantra, "location, location, location," but when discussing tax strategies for real estate, the motto should be "home ownership, home ownership, home ownership." Real estate investing begins with home ownership, which offers an incredible …show more content…
You can use shares of your property investments as contributions to self-directed IRAs.
Creative tax planning allows taxpayers to convert some personal expenses into valid business deductions.
You can hire friends and family members to manage your real estate holdings and keep the wealth within your immediate circle of closest associates.
Depending on your income level, the generous tax write-offs of depreciation, expenses and mortgage interest can generate tax-free cash and even reduce taxes on other types of income if you become an active investor or real estate professional.
The biggest advantages of real estate investing rest in owning a primary residence, where you can realize tax-free capital gains of $250,000 or $500,000 every two years or access equity by refinancing your mortgage.
In real estate investing, it 's easier to leverage your capital to buy multiple properties than in any other investing or entrepreneurial scheme.
Mortgage interest rates are still near record lows, low-cost properties are available all over the country and banks are willing to finance homes with 20% down …show more content…
Exclusion Exceptions
If you bought your home through a 1031 like-kind exchange before 1997, you 'll have to pay any deferred capital gains tax on the sale of your previous home.
Spouses and Exceptions
Both spouses must meet the two-year residency test to claim the $500,000 exclusion, but they don 't need to be married for the whole two years. If a couple marries before selling the home and meet the use requirement, they 're entitled to the full exclusion. However, if you marry someone, it 's important to find out whether your intended sold a home within the last two years. If he or she did, you 'll have to live in your home together for two years to claim an exclusion.
Residency Exceptions
You may qualify for the exclusion even if you don 't meet the residency requirement if you’re a member of the armed forces who was relocated, move because you become disabled or become displaced due to home condemnation or