tph4
New Member

I bought a house for my mom in 1992. It was held as joint tenants. She died in Jan 2017 and I rented it in 2018. Is my basis the price we bought the house for in 1992?

 

Investors & landlords

How was it used during 2017, if at all?
tph4
New Member

Investors & landlords

It was vacant after she passed at the end of January. I started renovating it and preparing it for rental. I got new carpet, flooring appliances, paint etc. to prepare it for renting. The costs of those items were about $8,0000 and the carrying costs from Feb to Dec of around $3000.00

Investors & landlords

You may want to run this past an accountant who is familiar with your state laws and show them a copy of the deed so they can see the exact wording.

In most cases, if you held the property jointly in fee simple, then you inherited half a stepped-up basis when your parent died.  For example, suppose you purchased the property in 1992 for $80,000.  The fair market value on the day she died was $140,000 and the FMV now is $150,000.  Your cost basis is half the purchase price ($40,000) plus half the value on the day she died ($70,000), equals $110,000.  When you place the property in service as a rental, your basis for depreciation is either the current FMV or your cost basis, whichever is lower.  Don't forget that land doesn't depreciate, so you have to back out the FMV of the land.  A real estate appraiser can give you a retroactive value of the property in 2017 based on historical records.

Two other points.  You can increase your basis by the cost of any permanent improvements that were made since you bought the home, such as a new roof, furnace, etc.  (An improvement raises the value of the home or extends the life of the home or one of it's systems.  You don't adjust basis for repairs.)  Because you inherited a stepped up basis on half the house, that folds in all those improvements.  So you only adjust your basis now by half the cost of improvements -- the half that applies to your half-share of ownership that did not get an adjustment when your mother died.  In the above example, if you installed a new furnace in 2000 for $6000, you can increase your basis by a further $3000.

Second, keep all documents relating to basis and depreciation, including sales records and an appraisal retroactive to the date she died, for as long as you own the property plus 6 years after you sell.  

View solution in original post