Depreciation in Real Estate: Maximize Tax Benefits & Returns
When it comes to real estate investing, one of the most powerful yet often overlooked tax advantages is depreciation in real estate. Depreciation allows property owners to reduce their taxable income by accounting for the natural wear and tear of their investment properties. Understanding how depreciation works can help investors unlock significant tax benefits and increase their overall returns. What is Depreciation in Real Estate? Depreciation in real estate is a tax deduction that allows property owners to write off the cost of a property over time. The IRS considers the physical structure of a property to wear out, deteriorate, or become obsolete over its useful life. As a result, investors can deduct a portion of the property’s value each year as an expense. This deduction happens even though the property may not lose value in the market. For example, if you purchase a rental property for $300,000, and the land is valued at $50,000 (since land doesn’t depreciate), your depre...