QuickBooks for Real Estate – Can You Write Off Tenant Balances Owed as a Loss?

Posted on By wizard

QUESTION:

Mike,

…first, thanks for the article on how to handle tenants who include you in their bankruptcy…

We manage and operate a commercial mixed use property with about 50 tenants.  Cash accounting is the method used.   When a tenant vacates prior to the expiration of the lease owing rent and costs for tenant damages, can we write off the loss for tax accounting purposes?

Thanks,
Simone

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TENANT TRACKING, Collections

QuickBooks For Real Estate – Repairs vs. Capitalized

Posted on By Mike Butler

QUESTION from Steve:

Hello Mike,

I understand your reply of repair versus capital expense so my question must not have been clear…

When I buy a house to resell that will need some repairs, these repairs are a capital expense as the property is not in “service”.

To properly see my cash flow in Investor Books PRO when I do a report, I put these fix up costs as an expense (initially).   I do this under “repairs and maintenance”

The fix ups will eventually be transferred and re-characterized as a capital expense at a later date thus in the meantime allowing my cash flow report to provide useful information for me as an investor.

My question is when do I transfer this to the asset?

Thank you Mike,

Hope that is more clearer-er

Steve

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INVESTOR BOOKS, Capitalized, Repairs, TENANT TRACKING

How Depreciation Benefits Real Estate Investors and Business Owners – Simple Version

Posted on By Mike Butler
Special Report – How Depreciation Benefits Real Estate Investors and Business Owners
First of ALL: Do NOT Allow Yourself To Feel Bad about not knowing.

When I began my real estate business, I did not understand “depreciation” until I saw the huge benefits at tax time.

Then I really began to pay attention.

Depreciation: A non-cash expense that reduces the value of an asset as a result of wear and tear, age, or obsolescence. Most assets lose their value over time (in other words, they depreciate), and must be replaced once the end of their useful life is reached.

There are several accounting methods that are used in order to write off an asset’s depreciation cost over the period of its useful life.

Because it is a non-cash expense, depreciation lowers the company’s reported earnings while increasing free cash flow.

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INVESTOR BOOKS, Depreciation