Tax Tips for Selling a Residence

-

 

HOME SELLERS, TAXES, SELLING A HOME

Tax Tips for Selling a Residence

According to the Internal Revenue Service, the primary residence you sold in 2023 may have federal tax benefits that can help you avoid capital gains on the sale, if you meet certain criteria for ownership and use of the home.

To claim a tax exclusion, you must have owned the home for at least two years and lived in the home for at least two out of no more than five years of ownership. The tax gain exclusion that’s available is $250,000 if you’re single, or $500,000 if you’re married and use a joint tax return. If you sell at a loss, such as a short sale, you can’t deduct the loss from your income, likely because of the many homeownership benefits subsidized by the government, including loan programs, first-time and low-income homebuyer grants, energy star appliance credits, and so on. Tax exclusions are also subsidized by the government.

To maximize your gain and lessen your tax bill, you can adjust the basis of the home you sold. The basis is the price you paid for the home, including closing costs and settlement fees. The adjusted basis, explains Smart Asset, factors in capital improvements that you made to the home, such as replacing the roof or the HVAC, adding a second story, or laying utility lines to the home. You can also adjust for casualty losses, like restoring your home after a fire or water damage.

The higher your adjusted basis is, the lower your capital gains are.

Location: San Diego, CA, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Falling Mortgage Rates Are Bringing Buyers Back

-
Image
  If you’ve been hesitant to   list your house   because you’re worried no one’s buying, here’s your sign it may be time to talk with an agent. After months of high rates keeping buyers on the sidelines, things are starting to shift. Rates are already coming down due to a number of economic factors. And yesterday the  Federal Reserve  cut the Federal Funds Rate for the first time since they began raising that rate in  March 2022 . And while they don’t control mortgage rates, this sets the stage for mortgage rates to fall even further than they already have – especially since more cuts from the Fed are expected into next year. And lower  mortgage rates  are bringing more buyers back into the market. Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist at  Bright MLS , says: “A drop in the cost of borrowing will help fuel more homebuyer demand . . . Falling rates will also bring more sellers into the market.” The best part? You can  take advantage  of th...
Read more

Talking Real Estate with Hope Leitner, January 2023

-
Image
  2023 is already making headlines for the Real Estate Market. Don't let the bad news scare you. There really is no crash in sight according to the professionals. San Diego is even less likely to experience a steep downturn. There's just too much demand for what comes on the market here. The gains in 2020, 2021 & 2022 were so extreme, any decline at all just indicates a stabilizing market.   Rising interest rates may mean that some buyers will look into risky loans, this article below will arm you with the knowledge necessary to avoid a mortgage pitfall.    I love hearing from everyone on this email list. I am here to support you whatever your real estate needs might be.     January - Ponder this -  “We are born in ignorance, we die in ignorance, but maybe sometimes we learn something important and pass it along to others before we die. Or we write it down in a little book.” - Greg Bear - Reading is what helps us overcome our ignorance, our fe...
Read more

San Diego Market Update May 2024

-
Image
The market is heating up in time for the traditional summer rush. I wish I could say when the market will cool off or at least level off, But, I can't. All I can say is the economy is steady and the real estate market reflects that.    Below you'll find the housing report for the current month along with data from the preceding months. San Diego County continues to grapple with an inventory shortage. The average cost of a home has risen, but that doesn't mean there aren't still some affordable properties out there.    Whether you're contemplating a purchase or sale, I invite you to reach out. Let's discuss your options within the dynamics of our distinctive housing market, ensuring your decisions align with the current trends and realities.   If you know anyone who might be interested in receiving this market update every month, please have them sign up at this  link.   I am always here for my clients and their friends and family.   Your Forever A...
Read more