Real estate has several advantages as an investment strategy to build wealth over the long term, carefully planning your entry and exit strategies and diversifying your portfolio. However, your real estate investment business is just that, a business. Knowing the market comes into play when considering a property’s long-term value and ability to continue earning high returns. While knowing the tax laws can save you money, there is no way to improve the property’s location or the potential earnings it can provide you as an investor. So, in addition to watching real estate trends, knowing your market, building a great team, placing great tenants and managing your properties, you must stay abreast of current tax laws.
The tax breaks that investors realize on their investment properties come in many forms, and many factors can influence how well they serve you as an investor. For example, among the changes in tax laws enacted by Congress in 2021 through the American Rescue Plan Act, landlords must now file 1099 for rental income of more than $600. So, naturally, you should seek the counsel of those with an investors mindset; you need an attorney or accountant who is highly experienced in investment properties to gain the most from these advantageous tax laws. So read on as we explore five of the most common tax questions from real estate investors in Baltimore. Please note that this article is for informational purposes, not financial or legal advice.
Income
Earned income is money earned by your work, be it in wages, tips or compensation, unlike passive income, wherein you don’t materially participate in the business. Income from rental properties typically falls under the category of passive income, which brings us to the first of our tax questions from real estate investors in Baltimore; how is rental income taxed? Your taxes depend on your status as an investor. Professional buyers like those at Maryland Home Solutions can help you understand the distinction, and we have everything in place to help you realize the benefits of long-term investments in real estate.
Deductions
The next of our tax questions from real estate investors in Baltimore is what are the allowable deductions for rental income? From mortgage interest, property taxes and insurance, there are several, including depreciation. When it comes to repairs, be sure you understand the distinction between repairs vs. improvements in the eyes of the IRS. Again, professional buyers like those at Maryland Home Solutions are highly educated local investors who have built a career investing in the Baltimore real estate market and can help guide investors like you.
Depreciation
Depreciation is another subject that often brings tax questions from real estate investors in Baltimore. Depreciation allows you to deduct the purchase price and improvements and begins when the property is officially a rental property and conventionally depreciates at a rate of 3.636% yearly for 27.5 years. Working with local professional buyers like those at Maryland Home Solutions means working with seasoned pros, allowing you to earn the highest possible returns on your investment dollar while remaining a passive investor.
Appreciation
Capital gains are the portion of appreciation for which you may owe taxes on your rental properties. Compared to the original cost, the rise in the value of your assets is known as appreciation, which is how wise real estate investors in Baltimore build wealth. The professional buyers at Maryland Home Solutions stay on top of their game in the real estate market to help guide investors like you to the best location to purchase your investment properties to realize the highest possible increase in value.
1031 Exchange
Our next tax question from real estate investors in Baltimore is, what are 1031 exchanges, and how do they work? Reinvesting your funds from selling a rental property into a like property within a specified period can allow you to avoid paying capital gains as an investor. Professional buyers like those at Maryland Home Solutions know the market and can help you identify your next investment property within the given 45-day period. Let the professional buyers at Maryland Home Solutions help you find your exchange property or ask about our current inventory of the best investment property in Baltimore.
The professional buyers at Maryland Home Solutions work with a team passionate about helping others succeed. At Maryland Home Solutions, we are your neighbors, and we are proud of our work to improve our community and property values helping investors like you improve Baltimore one investment at a time. At Maryland Home Solutions, our full-service in-house team of industry specialists serves the needs of our investors, from attorneys to closing, along with the most highly regarded property management team in Baltimore who understand the tax concerns of real estate investors in Baltimore. Talk to the professional buyers at Maryland Home Solutions today about any questions or concerns you may have without any obligation. Call Maryland Home Solutions at (410) 657-2523.