@ColeenD3 Yes good point lets break the sentence down
Vacant while listed for sale. If you sell property you held for rental purposes, you can deduct the ordinary and necessary expenses for managing, conserving, or maintaining the property until it is sold. If the property isn’t held out and available for rent while listed for sale, the expenses aren’t deductible rental expenses.
HELD that is a past tense word not "are holding" or "currently holding" so the IRS is saying yes you held this property for rental purposes and now you are selling it. Go ahead and deduct the expenses BUT if it is dilapidated and getting a major facelift and cannot be rented then its not available for rent and you cannot work on the house for 8 months and deduct rental expenses on the intent to sell it. I get it.
