Turning Personally Owned Second Home into Business

Turning Personally Owned Second Home into Business

Atlanta, GA · Member since 2020 · 4 posts · 1 vote

I personally own a home with the mortgage in mine and my husband's names, financed as a second home. The plan is to rent it out as short term vacation rental and have it pay for itself and generate income. Our bank said in order for this house to be classified as a second home, we have to intend to personally occupy (not list available for rent) the house a minimum of 14 days or 10% the amount of dates that it's rented. Now, we want to run the rental portion as a business, but we understand that with the house in our names, there's not a great way to protect our assets without quitclaiming the deed to an LLC, which we cannot do because of the due on sale clause in our mortgage.

At some point, we intend to refinance with a different bank who will let us transfer the title to an LLC

However, in the meantime, how should we set up the rental business for the best tax advantages until we can refinance with a different bank who will let us transfer the title to an LLC?

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John UnderwoodPro Member
Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
4y

Asset protection - You have insurance, a mortgage and you can add an umbrella policy if your losing sleep over this to give you 3 layers of protection with no need for an LLC.

Tax Advantage - There is no tax advantage with an LLC. You can still claim all the same business deductions without an LLC.

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  • John UnderwoodPro Member
    Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
    4y

    Asset protection - You have insurance, a mortgage and you can add an umbrella policy if your losing sleep over this to give you 3 layers of protection with no need for an LLC.

    Tax Advantage - There is no tax advantage with an LLC. You can still claim all the same business deductions without an LLC.

  • Atlanta, GA · Member since 2020 · 4 posts · 1 vote
    4y
  • John UnderwoodPro Member
    Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
    4y
    Originally posted by @Allison Morris:

    Yes, you can personally own the house. The rental income and expenses would show up on a "schedule E" on your personal tax return.

    Your CPA should handle this for you. Just track all your income and expenses to give him/her.

    The business license is dependent on the area where the property is located. You would have to check with local authorities on that.

  • Don KonipolBusiness Member
    Investor · The Woodlands TX / Avon, CT · Member since 2009 · 6k+ posts · 10k+ votes
    4y

    @Allison Morris

    There is nothing illegal, immoral, or unethical about transferring a property you own to an LLC you are a member of.

    Yes, it can trigger the due on sale clause. In my 40 years experience I’ve only see. This happen (1) when mortgage rates were far above the interest rate of the subject property’s mortgage (2) the borrower was habitually behind on payments.

    Let's say that there's a 1% chance that transferring to an LLC will result in triggering the due on sale clause. The lender then has to follow foreclosure proceedings as specified in state code. Texas has the shortest foreclosure time in the U.S., realistically 90 days. That's if the borrower doesn't file for a "stay" which is automatically granted for 60 days. Many states require judicial foreclosures which take a year or more. Meanwhile you have plenty of time to refinance.

    Private Mortgage Financing Partners, LLC
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