In this episode, Millionacres editor Deidre Woollard talks with Blake Christian of HCVT about opportunity zones and other real estate tax incentives that both developers and investors can use.

Blake Christian has over 40 years of experience providing tax consulting and compliance services to a wide variety of clients. Blake specializes in federal, state, and local tax incentive programs. He is a CPA and he and the HCVT OZ Team have been involved in the formation of over 100 Qualified Opportunity Funds and Qualified Opportunity Zone Businesses. They have also advised hundreds of other investors and professionals regarding the complexities of formation, operation, semi-annual testing and restructuring of QOFs and QOZBs. Learn more at https://www.hcvt.com/people-Blake-Christian. 
Questions? Email [email protected]
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction

01:03 Guest Introduction

01:50 Kinds of people investigating Opportunity zones

02:35 Type of investments among clients

03:57 IRS policy updates

04:32 Basis clarification

07:18 Clarifying opportunity zone projects

09:12 Opportunity zone incentives

12:50 Capital gain deferment 

14:04 Difference between qualified opportunity businesses and funds

15:13 Rules on qualification process

18:26 Clients looking opportunities

19:27 Seeing more interest in urban areas

20:58 Projects in rural areas

24:16 Tax incentives for developments

27:38 Developer interest in housing

29:45 Tax incentives for green initiatives

31:00 Tax incentives in California

33:15 Program changes and advocacy groups

35:00 Covid impact

36:01 Criticism around opportunity zones

38:23 Hopes for program future

40:36 Program changes in legislation