This week on The Mindset Transformation Radio show and Podcast with Coach Myrna and Rich Dad trainer Trevor Evans, we discuss the topic "Is Starting A Real Estate Investment LLC A Good Idea?"
This is the 6th episode in our Funding, Fixing, and Flipping Series:
Listen in to understand how important setting up your Real Estate Investment business with the right tax structure, would allow you to keep most of your investment income and not pay all of it to the tax man!
Tip of the week from Coach Myrna: Landlord LLC benefits
If you hold and rent Real Estate, this article could offer massive insight on one possible way to structure your company. We are not giving legal advice, just questions for you to ask you asset protection attorney.
Keeping in mind the risks associated with opening your business as a sole proprietorship, consider using this scenario for your business.
Open an LLC, purchase a property, but don’t manage it. That’s right, don’t be the one to manage the property. You can use the combination of a C-Corp and an LLC. Let the C-Corp manage the company. This is good to reduce liabilities. How? Let’s take an example.
For the last four months, the tenants have been complaining that the parking lot in the complex you own is too dark. They don’t feel safe walking to and from their cars at night and want to have you install more street lights to brighten up the area. They continue to complain to the management company, the C-Corp, letting them know of the issue. Having not addressed the concerns, the parking lot remains dark and one night, while walking in from her car, a young mother of two who live in your property is robbed at gun point in the dark parking lot. When she sues, who is liable? The LLC? They own the property, so it would be them, right? Wrong.
The C-Corp, as the managing entity, is the responsible party when it comes to any damages and liabilities incurred because of this incident.
The LLC, having limited liability, is protected. This is something very important to keep in mind when making the decision on which type of entity you wish to use.
For more information on setting up the structure of your Real Estate Investment business, check out this Connected Investor Blog post
https://connectedinvestors.com/blog/real-estate-investment-llc-vs-s-corp/
So, What are the Pro's and Con's of LLC for Real Estate Investing? Is starting a Real Estate Investment LLC a good idea?
Tune in to hear Trevor's answer.
What exactly are the major differences between an S-Corp, C-Corp and an LLC as it relates to real estate investing?
A C-Corp is a management entity. As per my tip of the week. Use your C-Corp to manage your rental properties.
So, in case you are sued for negligence, the C-Corp would be the benefactor of the law suit and you as the owner would have no liability.
The C-Corp also has more leniency in regards to what expenses can be written off; but the biggest benefit of having a C-Corp manage your rental properties, is the ability for the C-Corp to collect rental revenues and pay the HOA dues and other expenses from these revenues. You as the owner of the property, would only be responsible for your positive cash flow at the end of the month.
If you were collecting the rents in your personal name then you would have to claim the entire amount as income.
LLC - A single member LLC offers no asset protection and is charged with self employment tax.
A multiple member LLC has asset protection.
A multiple member LLC,