Hi,We recently (Aug 2024) bought commercial land of around 2 acres. this was part of bigger commercial lot (around 25 acres) which had AG exemption and so the taxes that they paid was around $20 each year. we received a 'AG ROLLBACK' letter from the appraisal district that starting 2025 tax year, we will be taxed at it market value resulting in additional taxes, interest and possible penalities for 3 prior years.

When they started screwing with us last week about appraisals and then having to give them an ‘after reno’ price for the house when they had no idea what we were doing the house to increase its value, I did mention to the partners I thought we’d been scammed.

There was a large number of starts all at the same time, during the end of Covid. 

You can read about the differences here: Cost Segregation Study Approaches ExplainedLet’s first start with what the approaches:Detailed Engineering Approach from Actual Cost RecordsDetailed Engineering Cost Estimate ApproachSurvey or Letter ApproachResidual Estimation ApproachSampling or Modeling Approach"Rule of Thumb" ApproachSo which of these approaches is required by the IRS?

Start with the list criteria that will put you in front of likely sellers.

I got started in arbitrage in 2019.

Starting to get competitive though for investment properties because of that reason you have more and more people entering the market from out of state.

Assets identified in this study include:Standard windows and doorsInterior ceilings and wallsBasic plumbing and electrical systemsBuilding structural elementsBasic HVAC componentsThis engineering-based cost segregation study included the following methodology:Physical Inspection through a site visitDocumentation review including architectural plans, accounting records and construction documentsA cost analysis which utilizes engineering principles in order to allocate costs to their applicable asset classificationsCalculation of the depreciation schedule using MACRSAs a reminder, bonus depreciation started to phase out in 2023.

I’d suggest starting with local credit unions or community banks—they’re often more flexible with investment properties.

I’d love to hear more about your goals and where you see yourself starting in the investment space.Looking forward to connecting and sharing insights as you grow your expertise—don’t hesitate to reach out if you ever want to chat or bounce ideas around!