1st Post - income tax rental house/s depreciation

[Mike H.]

Hi BP!

First post here.  I'm a long time lurker.  This community is really cool.  

My background... I grew up in Gainesville, FL.  I worked my way through college and realized with my income I could buy a house.  I bought one and then bought the house next door.  Over the next 5 years through grad school I lived in one room and rented the other 5 out to all my friends.  Since then, I moved to Austin for about 8 years.  I bought, renovated, and sold a house there as well.  I got married and now live with my wife in Brooklyn.  I've owned/rented the two properties in Gainesville for about 14 years.  I paid 58k for the two bedroom and 98k for the 4 bedroom.  I rent one out for 750 and the other for 1300.  I estimate they are worth 80k and 140k respectively.  

My question is about depreciation.  My brother is a CPA in FL and has done my taxes my whole life.  Now that I'm in NYC and married he's cutting me loose!  I've been doing research on how to file my taxes and one thing I don't understand is depreciation.  I spoke with my brother and I asked him if he had been deducting depreciation on my previous taxes.  He said "no, you don't make enough income on your properties to make it worth it".  From what I've read on all the blogs, I should be taking depreciation.  Obviously, I've been tracking all the other expenses etc on my tax returns.  

Anyone have some quick advice for someone that's owned 2 rental properties for 14 years and never claimed depreciation?  My income has been around 75k for the last three years.  My wife makes a bit more than that.  We got married in 2016.  The properties in FL are in my name.  I'm going to see a CPA/CFA asap here but can't get an appointment until May.  My wife and I are going to do our taxes this weekend on TurboTax.

Thanks!!!