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All Forum Posts by: Christian Cortez

Christian Cortez has started 0 posts and replied 13 times.

Quote from @Garrett Brown:

@John Underwood , I was surprised as well by Joshua Tree's inclusion on the list based on its growth over the last few years. I think Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg prices have lowered the average yield overall after the spike in 2021 would be the only reason. 


Not surprised by JT. I know a few investors who switched over to LTR from STR because of the saturation. Plus you can't beat the star gazing everyone does there. It's the draw and when you have a short drive back to LA or Palm Springs, it makes it worth while.

I'm surprised by the Mammoth Caves. I just bought in Frankfort and it's busy because of the Bourbon Trail. Maybe people are doing a little of both. Bourbon and Caves are quite the combo. 

People have simply lost sight of what the real market is out in the Smokies. People want to crush it like 21 or 22 but that's not reality. Reality is now and the over saturation of the area is killing people who came in late. Plus you have Wears Valley rebuilt from the previous 22 fire. There's too many options and people are smarter to wait till the last minute in the hopes of getting a better deal. If you're in the right location, you're going to continue to get traffic. The goal is to break even in the slow and make it up in the high season. 

Also looking at the home sale data, you can see inventory is way up and people are trying to get out from being underwater. 

ADU/separate dwelling will cash flow you more than the golf sim. The golf sim was just be looked at as an amenity like a game console.

Our cabin only has 8 days open in May. We booked May up pretty early on which is not normal. It's usually got open dates and gets last minute people coming through the area. I am constantly adjusting pricing up and down as the season changes. 

First thing you need to do is look up the rules and regulations for STRs in the city and county you are going into. Knowing this if the first step into STRs. Every city and county is different with regulations. Some like and accept STRs and other frown on it and limit the opportunity to run one. 

Quote from @Theresa McGallicher:
Quote from @Christian Cortez:
Quote from @Theresa McGallicher:

Everyone is telling me the same thing here - to use Schedule E - but no one is telling me HOW I can write my rental expenses and depreciation off like that. Avery Carl's article says:

"So, if you are actively managing and marketing your short-term property and qualify for the seven-day exception, you’ll be able to use your yearly tax losses to offset your business income and any other income, even if you work a day job."

But as soon as your day job annual income exceeds $150,000 that goes away....

Is there some box on Schedule E to check that tells the IRS that I am a "real estate professional" which magically undoes the Passive Activity Loss rules?

I do not have a PM, but actively manage my STR.





What you really need to find is a Real Estate CPA who understands all of this. We can all keep telling you what to do but we don't have all your data. You will want to also look into a cost segregation for your STR. You are venturing into the area of requiring tax strategy advice.

 I did have a cost segreation study done on my property in December, which I provided to my CPA (the one who put me on Schedule C last year). I am waiting to hear back from her. 

I did look into working with a tax strategist and they wanted $5000 with no promise that I would recoup my investment, and that did NOT include preparing my taxes. 

I have already spent $1000 on my 2022 taxes ($500 for the first CPA and $500 to have them amended), plus $3700 for the cost seg study and change in accounting forms, so it is hard to get excited about spending more with no possible return. 

This property is just paying for itself - not cash flowing millions of dollars.....

Unfortunately you get what you pay for when it comes to taxes. If you don’t really pay much to a CPA what benefit do they have in trying to really help you? You become just another number and how they earn a living. 

i ran into this myself with paying for a cost segregation, needing a 3115 filed, going into escrow and having my former CPA quit on me 3/5 of this year. What I realized, it was a blessing in disguise. I found an RE CPA who invest and does STRs himself. My tax prep fee is now 4x what I use to pay but I see the value in the 4x increase. I have someone who is going to help with tax strategy, cost segregation, 3115, meeting throughout the year and making sure I take full advantage of what I can. 
Maybe you need to find a better CPA who will include services like tax strategy instead of having to find different people. 
Like the saying goes. Gotta spend money to make money. Just need to be wise about it. 
Quote from @Theresa McGallicher:

Everyone is telling me the same thing here - to use Schedule E - but no one is telling me HOW I can write my rental expenses and depreciation off like that. Avery Carl's article says:

"So, if you are actively managing and marketing your short-term property and qualify for the seven-day exception, you’ll be able to use your yearly tax losses to offset your business income and any other income, even if you work a day job."

But as soon as your day job annual income exceeds $150,000 that goes away....

Is there some box on Schedule E to check that tells the IRS that I am a "real estate professional" which magically undoes the Passive Activity Loss rules?

I do not have a PM, but actively manage my STR.





What you really need to find is a Real Estate CPA who understands all of this. We can all keep telling you what to do but we don't have all your data. You will want to also look into a cost segregation for your STR. You are venturing into the area of requiring tax strategy advice.

Quote from @Theresa McGallicher:

I have researched this topic extensively on Bigger Pockets and elsewhere and I am still struggling to understand the tax code. 

I have a STR property that went into service in Jan 2022. I met the Material Participation requirements that year, and took our taxes to our preparer with the expectation of a refund. She filed our STR on Schedule E, and we owed $7000 to the IRS, because the rental income was added to our W-2 income, which was over $150,000. We were told that none of our real estate losses could be deducted.

After we paid, I reached out to another STR owner who recommend her tax preparer. The new CPA amended our 2022 taxes and filed our STR on Schedule C, so we recieved a refund of $6000.

Now we are preparing to file for 2023, and I was told by some STR gurus, and also read on here, that we should not be using Schedule C since we are not providing daily hospitality services. However, I don't see how filing with Schedule E can be benficial due to the Passive Activity Loss Rules.

What am I missing here?

Use a Schedule C if you self manage your STR. Schedule E if you have a PM running it. 

Easiest way to look at it. 

Quote from @Aaron Ohler:

I have a great referral if anyone needs one! 

Can you shoot me your referral please? Thanks 
Quote from @Sarah Kensinger:
Quote from @Christian Cortez:

Don't wait to put it in an LLC. Just form the LLC preferably in Wyoming. Wyoming does not release who owns the LLC. Most other states allow you to look up who the owners are of said LLC. Check with your lender prior to closing to verify it is ok to put the property into an LLC. Like another post said if it's after the closing, you might be required to refinance your loan to do it.

You still need an LLC in the state your property is in. The WY LLC holds the state LLC (the state the STR in located) so yes, the owner can't be easily traced. 
You do not need an LLC in the state your property is in. Buying an STR in Kentucky and LLC in Wyoming for the purchase. Now as far as business I am conducting can require me to have an LLC or business license in the state I am in. All depends on the laws for said state.