{
“@context”: “https://schema.org”,
“@type”: “FAQPage”,
“mainEntity”: [
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What is the tax treatment of real estate professional fees and commissions?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Transaction costs are one of the most commonly missed deductions for Glendale real estate investors. Buying costs increase your basis (reducing future gain). Selling costs reduce your taxable gain dollar-for-dollar. On a $2M property sale with $100,000 in selling costs, properly capturing those costs saves $20,000–37,000 in taxes. KDA’s Glendale real estate CPA team will review your closing statements, capture all transaction costs, and ensure they’re applied correctly to your basis and gain calculations.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What are passive activity loss rules and how do they affect real estate investors?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Passive activity loss rules are why most real estate investors can’t simply deduct rental losses against their W-2 income. The rules create a ‘passive loss bucket’ — losses accumulate but can’t be used until you have passive income or sell the property. The exceptions are: (1) the $25,000 allowance for active participants with AGI under $100,000; (2) REPS qualification; and (3) the STR loophole. KDA’s Glendale real estate CPA team will analyze your passive loss position and identify the most efficient path to unlocking those deductions.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What is Proposition 19 and how does it affect real estate investors in California?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Proposition 19 (effective February 2021) significantly changed California’s property tax transfer rules. It eliminated the parent-child exclusion for investment properties — previously, parents could transfer rental properties to children without property tax reassessment. Under Prop 19, only a primary residence can be transferred to a child without reassessment, and only if the child uses it as their primary residence. For Glendale real estate investors planning to pass rental properties to heirs, Prop 19 means those properties will be reassessed at current market value upon transfer — potentially dramatically increasing property taxes.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What is the tax treatment of real estate crowdfunding investments?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The tax reporting for real estate crowdfunding is more complex than most Glendale investors expect. Each platform investment generates a K-1 (often late), and the passive activity rules apply to losses. Some platforms conduct cost segregation studies that generate large depreciation deductions — but these passive losses are only useful if you have passive income to offset or qualify for REPS. KDA’s Glendale real estate CPA team will review all your crowdfunding K-1s, track passive loss carryforwards, and integrate platform investments into your comprehensive tax strategy.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “How do I prove material participation in my short-term rental to the IRS?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Material participation for the STR loophole requires meeting one of seven IRS tests, the most commonly used being: (1) you participated for more than 500 hours during the year; (2) your participation was substantially all the participation in the activity; or (3) you participated for more than 100 hours and no other person participated more than you. The IRS requires contemporaneous documentation — a daily log of your activities, hours spent, and tasks performed. KDA’s Glendale team provides clients with a time-tracking template and conducts quarterly reviews to ensure your documentation will withstand IRS scrutiny.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “How do I handle real estate investments in a divorce?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Divorce involving real estate creates complex tax issues for Glendale property owners. Key points: (1) transfers of property between spouses incident to divorce are generally tax-free under IRC Section 1041 — no gain or loss is recognized; (2) the receiving spouse takes the transferring spouse’s adjusted basis (including accumulated depreciation); (3) if the marital home is sold, the Section 121 exclusion may apply if both spouses meet the ownership and use tests; (4) rental property transferred in divorce retains its depreciation schedule and passive loss history. KDA’s Glendale team will advise on the tax implications of real estate division in divorce and help you negotiate the most tax-efficient settlement.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Can I use the STR loophole to offset my W-2 income from a high-paying job?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Yes — this is exactly the scenario the STR loophole was designed for. A physician, attorney, tech executive, or any high-income W-2 earner in Glendale can purchase an Airbnb property, run a cost segregation study, take 100% bonus depreciation, and generate $100,000–$300,000+ in paper losses that directly offset their W-2 income. At a 37% federal rate plus California’s 13.3% (or Arizona’s 2.5%), the tax savings can be extraordinary. KDA’s Glendale team has helped dozens of high-income professionals use this strategy to dramatically reduce their tax bills.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “How does the QBI deduction apply to rental real estate?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The permanent QBI deduction (OBBBA) is a 20% deduction on qualified business income from pass-through entities — including qualifying rental real estate. For Glendale investors, the critical steps are: (1) document 250+ hours of rental services annually (safe harbor); (2) maintain a contemporaneous time log; (3) ensure your rental activity is not a triple-net lease (excluded from safe harbor); and (4) consider the W-2 wage/UBIA limitation for high-income investors. KDA’s Glendale real estate CPA team will structure your rental activities to maximize QBI deduction eligibility.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What is the difference between active, passive, and portfolio income for real estate investors?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Understanding the three income categories is fundamental to real estate tax planning for Glendale investors. Rental income is passive — no self-employment tax, but losses are trapped in the passive bucket unless you qualify for REPS or the STR loophole. Capital gains from property sales are portfolio income — taxed at favorable long-term rates (0%, 15%, or 20%) plus NIIT for high earners. Active real estate income (flipping, real estate agent commissions) is subject to both income tax and self-employment tax. KDA’s team will structure your activities to minimize taxes across all three categories.”
}
}, {
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Should I hire a local real estate CPA or can I work with a national firm remotely?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The remote work revolution has made geography largely irrelevant in CPA selection. What matters is: (1) real estate specialization; (2) knowledge of your state’s specific tax rules; (3) proactive planning approach (not just tax prep); and (4) responsiveness and communication. KDA Inc. serves Glendale real estate investors with all four — specialized real estate expertise, deep knowledge of Glendale’s tax environment, year-round proactive planning, and dedicated client communication. Schedule a free consultation to experience the KDA difference.”
}
}
]
}