If you run your real estate business from a home office, you may qualify for the home office deduction. For 2026, it must be your principal place of business—where you conduct business tasks like bookkeeping, phone calls, or showings—with no other fixed location for those tasks. 👉 Tip: The simplified method allows you to deduct $5 per square foot, up to 300 square feet, with no receipts required. How is your home office set up? Is it your main workspace, or just a laptop on the kitchen table?

The 1031 Like-Kind Exchange remains intact in 2026, allowing investors to defer all capital gains and depreciation recapture taxes. With the higher $15 million estate tax exemption, it's a fantastic strategy for passing on appreciated assets to the next generation tax-efficiently. 👉 Tip: Make sure to identify potential replacement properties within 45 days and close within 180 days. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced when completing a 1031 exchange?

Understanding the holding period for property sales is crucial in 2026. If you’ve held a property for more than 24 months, the profits qualify for Long-Term Capital Gains treatment (0%, 15%, or 20% tax rates, depending on your income). Short-term capital gains, for properties held 24 months or less, are taxed as ordinary income (up to 37%). 👉 Tip: Always calculate the tax difference between short-term and long-term before selling. Have you ever held onto a property a bit longer to qualify for the long-term capital gains treatment?

Understanding the holding period for property sales is crucial in 2026. If you’ve held a property for more than 24 months, the profits qualify for Long-Term Capital Gains treatment (0%, 15%, or 20% tax rates, depending on your income). Short-term capital gains, for properties held 24 months or less, are taxed as ordinary income (up to 37%). 👉 Tip: Always calculate the tax difference between short-term and long-term before selling. Have you ever held onto a property a bit longer to qualify for the long-term capital gains treatment?

Real estate deductions are prime audit targets. To survive an IRS review in 2026, you need documentation. For every property, keep a master file with: closing statements (HUD/ALTA), receipts for all capital improvements (painting counts as repair; a new roof is a capital expense), and logs of time spent managing properties (especially if chasing Real Estate Pro status). 👉 Tip: "Repairs" are immediately deductible, but "Improvements" must be depreciated. Make sure your contractor invoices separate the two. What's your system for organizing receipts and closing documents? Are you a filer or a "pile-er"?