Tax Benefits for Owning Real Estate

Traditional Benefit #3: Tax Benefits

The third Traditional Benefit that purchasing and owning real estate has offered is Tax Benefits. As Americans have purchased and owned real estate over the years they have been able to obtain substantial tax benefits. These tax benefits have resulted in property owners being able to put a lot more money in their pockets. How ? As a result of being able to deduct things like 1) mortgage interest, 2) property taxes, 3) depreciation, and 4) other miscellaneous types of deductions associated with real estate ownership property owners have been able to substantially increase the amount of tax refunds they’ve received from Uncle Sam. These increased tax refunds have not only increased Americans’ wealth but they have also positively stimulated the U. S. real estate market and overall economy as a result of these monies filtering into the economy. Yes there is no question about it that the tax benefits associated with real estate ownership have truly proven to be substantial.

Tax Advice For People Purchasing Real Estate

I would strongly suggest that potential property owners seek competent tax advice prior to purchasing any piece of real estate. Why ? So that they have a full understanding of what their potential tax benefits will be prior to ownership. The time to find out what the “ax benefits will be when purchasing real estate is before signing of Agreements Of Sale, making final settlement, and taking title not afterwards.

Tax Advice For People Selling Real Estate

I would also strongly suggest that potential property owners seek competent tax advice prior to selling any piece of real estate. Why ? So that they have a full understanding of what their potential tax liabilities will be prior to conveying title. The time to find out what the potential tax liabilities are when selling real estate is before signing of Agreements Of Sale, making final settlement, and conveying title not afterwards.

Mathematical Example As To Why Owning Real Estate Is Statistically Better Than Renting

Let’s assume that home buyers decide to purchase a home for ( $200,000 ) in the year 2008 and during the existence of the strongest Buyer’s Market of all time. Let’s further assume that 15 years later the home has decreased ( depreciated ) in value by ( $50,000 ) and that they can now only sell it for ( $ 150,000 ). The immediate reaction that most people would have to this scenario is that these poor and unfortunate home buyers have lost ($50,000) during this 15 year period. Not true. Actually these home buyers have made money and for that matter a lot of money. Perhaps as much as around ( $200,000 ) and here’s why.

Let’s also assume that these home buyers were able to pay off their mortgage during this 15 year period as a result of learning and applying the financial secrets that enable home owners to pay off their mortgages much faster. As a result of selling their home and receiving net proceeds of ( $150,000 ) they can now use this money to 1) purchase another home, 2) help retire on, or 3) do virtually whatever they want. In addition to the ( $150,000 ) in net proceeds they probably made about another ( $50,000 ) as well. How ? As a result of owning their home and being able to deduct things like 1) mortgage interest, 2) property taxes, and 3) other miscellaneous types of deductions associated with real estate ownership their tax refunds from Uncle Sam probably increased by another ( $50,000 ) during the 15 year period.

Therefore as a result of receiving the ( $150,000 ) in net proceeds and the ( $50,000 ) in additional tax refunds these poor and unfortunate home buyers have actually made approximately ( $200,000 ) during a 15 year period even though the home they purchased and sold decreased in value by ( $50,000 ).

Now let’s analyze how much money these home buyers would have made, during the same 15 year period, had they decided to rent rather than purchase. Assuming that their income and expenses would have been the same during this time frame they would have made nothing ( $0 ).

Hopefully this mathematical example makes it perfectly clear as to why purchasing and owning real estate offers substantial financial advantages that unfortunately renting does not. This is true even in cases when real estate decreases in value. Hopefully a word to the wise should prove to be sufficient.