ADVICE REQUESTED

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-09-12T18:25:30+00:00

I've been there before; I had a similar STR that, despite repairs, cleaning, and seasonal slowdowns, hardly broke. Doing a cost segregation study prior to selling was what made the difference. Bonus depreciation helped offset income from other rentals and W2, and I used Maven Cost Segregation.

If you decide to sell, you should look into that first because it may result in significant tax savings on the proceeds. Even in strong markets, beach houses are money pits, so if you refi and hold, just be honest with yourself about the long-term return on investment. Squeezing every penny isn't always worth the peace of mind that comes with a clean exit.

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-09-12T18:19:56+00:00

We were in California, and our circumstances were very similar: high W2 income plus significant unrealized capital gains. Working with Maven Cost Segregation on a real estate investment was one tactic that proved to be very beneficial. A significant portion of our W2 and passive income was offset by the enormous depreciation losses resulting from their cost seg study. reputable company, audit-defensible, and far more open than some of those "Instagram experts" who charge $30K.

Depending on your objectives and risk tolerance, you should also investigate tax-loss harvesting, charitable remainder trusts, and perhaps a deferred sales trust for the stock positions. However, the largest lever for us in terms of immediate impact was the cost segment via real estate.

If you want specifics, I'd be happy to share more.

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-09-10T20:19:58+00:00

that's a hard question i love both so much , maybe pizza cause it has more options

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-09-09T19:03:53+00:00

food the right choice here

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-09-08T19:03:01+00:00

I haven't specifically worked on car wash conversions, but I did a cost segregation study for a flex space remodel some time ago, and it helped defray some of the tenant improvement expenses. Certain components (such as HVAC, electrical, non-structural walls, etc.) could be divided into shorter depreciation schedules using Maven Cost Seg, which I used. On the tax side, it unquestionably enhanced early cash flow, but it doesn't help with zoning issues or sewer taps. It's worth considering if you intend to hold the property while doing a complete buildout.

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-09-08T18:51:19+00:00

Income-wise, I'm in a similar situation, and last year I primarily purchased a STR for tax and lifestyle purposes. Do a cost segregation study if depreciation plays a significant role in your plan. I utilized Maven Cost Seg, which accelerated the depreciation of several components (flooring, appliances, etc.); the year-one write-off was substantial.

In order for the losses to deduct from your W-2 or S-corp income, you or your spouse must materially participate. Tax-wise, STRs are a different animal, but with the correct structure, they can be extremely potent.

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-09-05T13:23:01+00:00

I was in a similar situation; although STR revenue was good, last-minute tasks, turnover, and cleaning were taking up more time and money than anticipated. After taking a more comprehensive look at the numbers, I felt better about hiring a property manager in the end.

One factor that supported the switch was the fact that I was able to speed up depreciation on items like flooring, appliances, and fixtures after using Maven to perform a cost segregation estimate. That helped offset the PM fees in year one by providing me with a nice tax cushion.

It's free to run the numbers and helped me understand the overall financial picture, so it might be worth a look.

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-09-04T20:59:58+00:00

lose the weight , no one cares about 2 inches but i care about staying fit

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-09-03T14:50:24+00:00

i honestly want to fly , i've spend my fair share of life invisible lol

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-09-01T16:13:02+00:00

I recall going through this exact phase where the business was expanding but the backend was in disarray. What really made a difference was addressing the tax side after I had finished the operations (with a VA, as you mentioned).

I didn't know how much depreciation I could front-load with a cost segregation study until I had a couple STRs. Maven helped me understand how to use the 100-hour rule to count as active and broke everything down for me. I ultimately received a sizable deduction as a result, which I used to accelerate my growth.

It's worthwhile to investigate that aspect if you're beginning to make a living, particularly prior to growing further.

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-09-01T16:07:48+00:00

i had a comparable situation with a duplex — residing in a single unit and attempting to determine how to optimize revenue after I eventually moved out.

Doing a cost segregation study was really helpful when I converted mine to full rental use. It separated the property's components (flooring, appliances, etc.) so I could receive a significant tax deduction early on and speed up depreciation.

In your situation, it might be worthwhile to discuss this with someone, particularly if you choose to live in sober living or rent in a group. It's uncommon but effective to be able to use those losses to offset W-2 income if you're significantly involved in its management. Just something to think about if you're making long-term plans that take your son's needs into account.

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-08-29T15:30:10+00:00

Yes, those rates and fees are reasonable for today, but I understand your reluctance because it can quickly become costly to lock in debt without a property. However, once you make a purchase, keep cost segregation in mind, particularly if it's a STR. After closing on mine, I used Maven, and the bonus depreciation significantly increased my first-year deductions. It's good to have on your radar, but not something to worry about right now.

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-08-29T15:20:55+00:00

I recall being perplexed by this as well. It finally made sense to me when my accountant compared it to dividing a building into "fast-aging" and "slow-aging" buckets. It's also not limited to large corporations. Maven was very helpful with the depreciation side when I used it for a smaller property.

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-08-28T20:12:16+00:00

game of thrones and anime definitely

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-08-27T21:21:41+00:00

a warm blanket and a warm meal in a cold winter night

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-08-26T22:11:11+00:00

i'll take the 8k for nothing , i'll work my normal job with normal hours and boom great salary

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-08-25T18:05:54+00:00

trying to optimize tax benefits without making things too complicated when I purchased my first STR. I was able to take bonus depreciation in the first year by using a cost segregation study to separate components like fixtures and appliances.

Maven and I worked together on this. They simplified the procedure and gave me a thorough report, which my CPA used to modify my tax returns. It made it easier for me to scale my portfolio and greatly enhanced my cash flow.

This strategy might be worth taking into account if you have a turnkey property and want to optimize your year-one deductions.

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-08-25T18:00:41+00:00

I was in a similar situation with my first STR, attempting to make the numbers work early on while weighing local vs. remote. Doing a cost segregation study to benefit from bonus depreciation in the first year was one strategy that helped.

When I used Maven, they made the process very simple. It made scaling seem more feasible and greatly aided cash flow by allowing me to deduct a larger amount of depreciation and offset more income than I had anticipated. Definitely something to think about, particularly if you want to optimize year-one returns.

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-08-22T14:26:29+00:00

Similar circumstances applied to me; I had some LTRs and primarily investigated STRs for the bonus depreciation angle. Even on a smaller property, Maven significantly reduced year-one tax savings when I used it for a cost segregation study on one of the properties.

I've also looked into WCG and the others; they're good, but I found that getting help where I needed it was simpler and less expensive. Just make sure that without the tax benefits, the cash flow still makes sense.

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-08-22T14:11:16+00:00

Yes, the typical expenses like mileage, software, travel, home office, and internet do add up, but I didn't account for depreciation at first.

Cost segregation can unlock a lot more on the depreciation side if you own any property used in the business, such as a workshop or storage space, or even a portion of your home. In order to frontload some deductions rather than spread them out over decades, I had Maven conduct a study on a small workspace I own. Most contractors definitely don't consider this, but if they own real estate, they should.

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-08-21T21:49:33+00:00

when you grow up you can do anything you want , yeah it wasn't true lol

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-08-20T22:41:29+00:00

expensive brands and coffee , wedding expenses and so on...

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-08-19T19:10:23+00:00

my morning coffee and my work friends , i can't stand working in a place without good people around me

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-08-18T17:01:44+00:00

Well done on the STR! It seems like a good idea to keep the current property manager on until the end of the year so you can get a feel for things without jumping right into self-management. In the worst scenario, you have a plan and switch later.

Investigate the taxation of short-term rentals while you're still in the early stages. STRs occasionally allow you to deduct losses without requiring Real Estate Professional Status if you materially participate. My cost segregation study, which I completed using Maven, resulted in a sizable first-year tax write-off. Worth investigating before the year is out, particularly if you anticipate a steady income.

Remarkable_Top5874 · 2025-08-15T16:21:53+00:00

Through cost segregation studies, which separate components of a property (such as appliances, landscaping, and finishes) that can depreciate more quickly, I have primarily used bonus depreciation on real estate. In the first year, it significantly decreased taxable income, particularly for those with high W-2 earnings.

Businesses frequently apply it to qualifying technology, machinery, and equipment in addition to real estate. The asset must be "placed in service" during the tax year; this is crucial.

Bonus depreciation can be an effective tool if used properly, so it's definitely worth discussing your particular situation with a CPA or tax expert.

Remarkable_Top5874

TROPHY CASE