How to Set Up Your QuickBooks Chart of Accounts for Rentals

A cluttered desk with a computer screen displaying a QuickBooks chart of accounts for rentals, surrounded by scattered paperwork and a calculator

Managing rental properties requires organized financial tracking, and QuickBooks offers powerful tools to streamline your accounting processes. Setting up a proper chart of accounts in QuickBooks helps you track income, expenses, and profitability for each rental property while maintaining accurate financial records. Creating a rental property chart of accounts involves separating property owner accounts from…

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CMBS Default Rates: Historical Patterns and 2025 Outlook

A female real estate investor with red hair reading a graph showing increasing CMBS default rates over time and being shocked at the data.

Commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) delinquency rates have reached concerning levels in early 2025, with rates climbing to 6.57% in December 2024. The office sector faces particular challenges, driving much of this increase. Your investment decisions in the CMBS market need to account for the significant variation in default risks across property types, with office properties…

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Mastering Rental Property Reconciliation: Tips and Best Practices

A desk with scattered rental receipts, a calculator, and a laptop, surrounded by files and folders. A pen sits on top of a stack of papers

Managing rental properties requires meticulous financial oversight, and rental property reconciliation stands as a crucial practice for maintaining accurate records. Property reconciliation involves comparing your recorded transactions against bank statements to ensure all rental income and expenses match, helping you maintain precise financial control and tax compliance. As a landlord, you need to track various…

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1031 Exchange Investing: A Tax-Deferred Strategy for REI Growth

A bustling city skyline with multiple properties and buildings, symbolizing potential investment opportunities for a 1031 exchange

A 1031 exchange represents a powerful tax strategy that allows real estate investors to sell properties while deferring capital gains taxes. Through a properly executed 1031 exchange, you can sell an investment property and reinvest the proceeds into a new property while postponing tax obligations, effectively keeping more capital working for you. The rules for…

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5 Innovative Finance Strategies Driving Net Lease Investment Growth

A commercial property with a "For Lease" sign in front, surrounded by growing businesses and increasing foot traffic

Net lease investments are experiencing a remarkable surge in growth, with investment volumes increasing by 13% in 2024. The industrial sector leads this expansion with an impressive 87% year-over-year increase, demonstrating the robust appetite for stable, long-term investment opportunities in commercial real estate. As interest rates stabilize and political uncertainty diminishes, investors are discovering innovative…

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How to Leverage 1031 Exchanges for Wealth Building

A bustling real estate office with agents and clients discussing property options and paperwork for 1031 exchanges

A 1031 exchange offers real estate investors a powerful tax strategy that can help build long-term wealth. When you sell an investment property, you can defer paying capital gains taxes by reinvesting the proceeds into another qualifying property through a 1031 exchange process. Named after Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, this tax-deferral strategy…

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CRE Pricing Reset: Seizing First-Mover Advantage in 2025

A bustling city skyline at dusk, with multiple skyscrapers and office buildings, illuminated by colorful neon lights and digital billboards

The commercial real estate market stands at a pivotal moment in early 2025, presenting a unique window of opportunity for strategic investors. Savvy investors view the ongoing CRE pricing reset as a key opportunity to secure first-mover advantages, positioning themselves ahead of the anticipated market recovery. Greater Boston leads the pack among top CRE markets,…

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Federal Office Space Cuts Impact on CRE Loans: Investor Guide

Empty office buildings with "For Lease" signs, abandoned cubicles, and vacant meeting rooms. Economic impact visible through deserted workspaces

The federal government’s aggressive reduction in office space leases signals a major shift in the commercial real estate landscape. Recent policy changes targeting GSA leases put $15.6 billion in commercial real estate loans at risk, affecting 201 loans secured by 13.8 million square feet of federal office space. The GSA currently manages 149.5 million square…

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How To Perform a Real Estate Cost Segregation Study

A team of professionals conducting a detailed analysis of a commercial property, identifying and segregating costs related to building components and assets

A cost segregation study can transform your real estate investment strategy by maximizing tax benefits and improving cash flow. A cost segregation study identifies and reclassifies property components to accelerate depreciation deductions, potentially saving real estate investors thousands in taxes during the early years of property ownership. As a property owner or investor, you’re likely…

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What Makes a Bulletproof Real Estate Investment Pro Forma?

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A real estate pro forma is a crucial financial projection that helps you evaluate potential investment properties before committing your capital. Pro forma analysis projects future cash flows by examining expected rental income, operating expenses, and potential returns over a specific time period. Whether you’re analyzing your first property or expanding your portfolio, creating accurate…

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Retail Store Closures: A Hidden Real Estate Investment Gold Mine

Empty storefronts line the street, "For Lease" signs dotting the windows. Investors survey the area, strategizing potential real estate acquisitions

The retail landscape is experiencing a dramatic transformation as store closures surge by 70% in 2024, creating ripples across commercial real estate markets. With projections of 15,000 store closures by 2025, savvy real estate investors are discovering valuable opportunities in this shifting market. The current wave of retail closures presents strategic acquisition opportunities, particularly in…

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