Taxes & Accounting
Deductions, basis, Schedule E, and staying audit-ready.
Home Energy Audit Tax Credit — What It Actually Covers in 2026
A federal tax credit rewards homeowners who pay for a qualified home energy audit, but the eligibility rules trip up landlords who assume a rental unit qualifies.
Heat Pump Tax Credit for Homeowners: What to Verify in 2026
Signed into law in 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act changed several home energy tax credits — here's how homeowners confirm what's current.
EV Home Charger Tax Credit — Who Can Claim It in 2026
The federal EV charger credit under Section 30C has changed with recent legislation, so landlords need to check IRS.gov before claiming anything.
First-Year Homeowner Tax Timeline: Month-by-Month Guide
Your first 12 months as a homeowner bring at least four paperwork deadlines and three maintenance checkpoints most new owners miss entirely.
Best First Smart-Home Devices for Beginners (Start Here)
4 device categories cover nearly everything a beginner needs — start with one hub-friendly gadget before buying a house full of gear.
1031 Exchange Deadlines: 45 Days to Pick, 180 Days to Close
A 1031 exchange gives you 45 calendar days to identify replacement property and 180 days total to close, both counted from your relinquished property's sale date.
The 10 Repairs Worth Making Before You List (and 5 to Skip)
A $2,500 de minimis safe harbor and the repair-vs-improvement rule decide which pre-sale fixes actually help your taxes, not just your listing photos.
Suspended Passive Losses — What Happens When You Sell?
Under section 469(g), a full and taxable sale of your rental to an unrelated buyer unlocks every suspended passive loss you've carried forward, all at once.
Standard Deduction vs Itemizing After You Buy a Home: 2026
Buying a home adds two new itemized deductions to your return, but they only help if their total beats the current standard deduction amount.
Selling an Inherited House: Probate, Taxes & First Steps
An inherited house gets its cost basis reset to fair market value at death, which usually means little or no capital gains tax if you sell soon after.
Selling a Rental Property: The 1031 Exchange Basics
A 1031 exchange lets you sell a rental and reinvest the proceeds into another property while deferring the capital gains tax bill.
Sell First or Buy First? How to Decide Without Getting Stuck
Selling first protects your cash but risks a rental gap, while buying first locks in your next home but means carrying two mortgages at once.
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