All Forum Posts by: Gwendolen Rowe

The tax preparer I have been using since moving overseas has made some mistakes which caused complications I'm hoping to avoid in the future. I would love to find a tax professional who is familiar with US taxes for expats, as well as real estate. If there is anyone on this forum who fits that description, or if you can recommend someone, please let me know!

To summarize my situation: 

I am self employed, with small income from real estate, agriculture, and creative projects. My last US place of residence was in CA, so I use a mailing address there for tax purposes. I believe this means I am required to file state taxes there. 

I own a condo in Wisconsin, currently rented, so I believe I also have to file state taxes there as well. I plan to sell the condo to the tenants in 2020 and want to be sure I have fully researched the tax consequences first (I have not sold a property before).

I own and operate a short term rental and agricultural property in partnership with my husband in Austria, where we live. My husband is an Austrian national, and is not currently a US taxpayer, so I file taxes as married filing separate. When my husband retires in a few years we want spend more time in the US, so I want to research any tax consequences for him. I just recently learned that if I spend too many days visiting relatives in the US then I do not qualify as an overseas resident for tax purposes. 

I also own a property in the UK which does not currently produce any income, but I will either sell it or renovate it as a short term rental within the next 2 years.

Thank you, @Maggie Maddox! Those two are at the top of my list based on their websites.

Thanks, @Kyle Garro , that's very helpful! The padmapper site looks like a good research tool. Like yours, this was built early 2000's, and the grounds and building exterior are professionally maintained. It's nice and in good condition, although not fancy. It has the advantage of feeling more like a house than most condos as it's single level and none of the living space adjoins other units (only the garage shares one wall with the neighbor's garage). I'm thinking it should be in the $750-950 rent range.

The condo is in the area of Madison, not in the city itself. It's about 15 miles west, in Black Earth. It is a small complex (10 units I think), 55+ senior complex self-managed by the owners.

The most likely tenants are retired people who already live in the area and are downsizing, or want to get out of the city. I could just go ahead and start advertising for a tenant now, but I'm living overseas so would prefer not to make a trip there to manage the whole process of showing the place to people and moving somebody in.

I'm also looking for suggestions on figuring out how much it should rent for. I have a rough idea from looking at prices in Madison, but I'm not sure how much difference being in a rural area will make in price, since there isn't really anything to compare to.

I'm new to this site, and new to owning rental property. I have inherited 50% of a one bedroom condominium near Madison from my mother, and am planning to buy the other 50% from my brother in order to keep it as a rental. I don't live in Wisconsin so will need to find a local property management company. Any recommendations from other people who own rental property in the Madison area?