Real estate prices have soared in the last decade. Many homeowners have seen their property values double or triple. That type of growth can mean hefty capital gains taxes for many sellers. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid these fees.

In the most basic sense, real estate refers to a piece of land and anything permanent affixed to it. That includes structures like homes and buildings, as well as natural attachments such as trees, water, and valuable mineral deposits. Real property also comes bundled with inherent ownership and usage rights. This distinguishes it from personal property, or items that are movable and do not stick out of the ground like cars and furniture. Read more https://www.acompanythatbuyshouses.com/sell-my-house-fast-allen-tx/

When it comes to investment properties, capital gains are calculated as the profit from the sale of an asset minus your cost basis. Your basis is your initial purchase price plus any costs related to the property such as depreciation and improvements. If you make improvements or renovations to a property before selling it, those costs can increase your basis and reduce the amount of capital gains tax you’ll be liable for.

There are other strategies that can help you manage your capital gains tax liability, as well. One option is to use a 1031 exchange. This allows you to swap an income-producing property for a similar one without having to pay any capital gains taxes on the difference. Another strategy is to engage in tax-loss harvesting, which involves selling investments for a loss and using those losses to offset gains from other property sales.

Another strategy for managing your capital gains tax is to strategically select the locations where you purchase. For example, you may want to invest in opportunity zones, which are distressed areas where the government offers tax incentives for investments. By doing so, you can do good for the community while limiting your out-of-pocket expenses.

Choosing the right date for your property’s sale can also be helpful. Timing your sale for a time when income tax rates are lower can also lower your overall liability.

If you sell your primary residence, you can avoid paying a capital gains tax on the proceeds from that sale if you’ve owned and lived in it as your primary home for two of the previous five years. However, you cannot rent the property out during that period.

Likewise, you can defer your capital gains taxes by reinvesting the proceeds of a property sale in a new one. This will essentially freeze the amounts you owe on your capital gains for the future, and it’s an excellent way to limit the impact of a large sale. However, you should be aware that reinvesting in the same type of property can still trigger capital gains taxes in some cases. For that reason, it’s important to consult a tax advisor before making this decision.