How to enter rental use percentage for both expense deductions and property improvements for a rental home on the same property as our home?

[TaxingTimeAgain]

We have a property with two houses on it.  We moved from one to the other 7/1/18 and started renting the front home on 9/1/18.  In the property profile I checked that I rent out a unit in a multi-unit property.  In the property profile, it says "Let us calculate your expense deductions for you" and it asks "the percentage of the property rented out. " I put in 50%.  It then wants to cut the remodeling expenses entered by 50%, although they were all for the rental unit, not our separate home.  If I don't put in 50%, do I cut the original purchase price of the property and fair market value in half and all the escrow fees, so I can put in the whole amount of the remodeling for the rental home, without that number being adjusted?

[AnnetteB]

If the properties are essentially the same size since you allocated 50% to the rental, then yes, you would allocate the purchase price and cost basis by 50% as well. 

In the long run, this will probably be you best solution in the event that you ever decide to rent both houses.

You would also change the property type from multi unit to single family.

[edited 4/15/19 | 9:54 am PST]

[AnnetteB]

edited

[TaxingTimeAgain]

OK, and for the home office, how do I put in two offices and the cost of the property when the home office moved mid year from one house to another on the same piece of property and the previous home is now a rental and it's property tax and mortgage interest is now reported in the rental section.