Learn About The REITS Through The Real Estate Courses Houston TX

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By John Foster


There are several reasons to start investing in properties as already discussed. There are reasons like stability, leverage, capital gains, and constant cash flows among others. These are all good reasons, but have you considered the tax benefits of investing in real estate? You need the Real estate courses Houston TX to fully understand this.

Consider that long-term property ownership is pretty much the most guaranteed investment there is. With very few exceptions, property appreciates at a progressive rate. The market always has ups and downs, but the big picture sees property gaining value, so owners that sit on their investment for ten years or more are sure to earn equity that makes the endeavor very worthwhile. Investing in real estate gives you long-term financial stability and independence.

The corporates that go into REITs pay no Federal taxes as long as they abide by some requirements. They have to distribute at least 90% of their profits earned to the shareholders in the form of dividends. Unlike the companies, the RE investment trust companies do not enjoy the same flexibility in determining their dividend payout policy.

Take an example of a residential property. The property's lifetime is estimated at 27.5 years. If you sell your property at $275,000, and every year you have reported a "loss" of $10,000, your taxable amount is reduced by $10,000 every year you owned the property. Assume you have been earning $100,000 annually from the property; the taxable income is pegged at $90,000. This example shows how depreciation is a RE investor's hidden cash flow.

As long as the returns are high enough, the investor can pay the amount due (part of principal and interest outstanding) and retain something for own use. However, if the market conditions are not right, and the returns are not being realized as expected, the investor can get into deeper problems than an investor who chooses to invest in a fully financed stock portfolio.

Even if you are long away from paying off your mortgage, the average mortgage payment is far below what the same home or apartment would earn through rental income. Consider couples whose total monthly mortgage and insurance costs are at just around $700. The house they live in could rent for $1500 or more at their local rates. They're very glad they bought when they did.

Leasing a space and then renting it out: This involves tying part of your capital in a property by entering into a long-term contract in which you rent a bigger room, subdivide the space and carry out modifications before sub-leasing the same space to tenants at a higher rate. Take an example of a big business block in the city; the mobile workers can buy office time from larger tenants in the property.

Real estate investment is a business just like any other. Unlike other forms of businesses, the expenses may not be direct. However, you have the opportunity to count them as expenses. When you get out looking for a property, all the costs you incur are tax deductible, including the vehicle expenses incurred. The same goes for expenditures related to repairs, painting, plumbing, security, property management among others. All these costs are tax deductible from the rental income. All you need is to consult a qualified tax expert to determine what tax deductible is and what is not.




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