Owning a home, whether it be your first home, second home or a vacation property, can offer you significant tax advantages. When it comes to vacation or second homes, your tax advantages are dependent upon three things: how often you use your vacation home yourself, how often you rent it out, and how long it sits empty.

Personal Residences Tax Benefits

If you rent out your house, but still use the home yourself, then you will need to know the laws and specifications that allow you to benefit from tax breaks. If you rent your house more than 14 days a year and have personal use of more than 14 days or 10% of the rental days, whichever is greater, your home will be considered a personal residence. Personal use also includes use by family members or anyone who pays less than market rental rates.

As a personal residence home, your home is qualified for certain deductions. You can deduct interest on up to one-million dollars of the mortgage debt on both your personal residences, and up to an additional one-hundred-thousand dollars for home equity loans. Property taxes are most always deductible, regardless of how many homes you may acquire.

Rental Property Tax Benefits

If you use your home very little for personal use, then your home will be filed as a rental property instead of a personal residence. If you rent more than 14 days a year, and if your personal use doesn't exceed 14 days or 10% of the rental days, whichever is greater, then your interest, property taxes, and operating expenses will all be allocated based on the total number of days the house was used.

Things To Know When Buying a Second Home

Your interest when buying a second home is always fully deductible. This applies to any asset that has a kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom, whether it is a house boat or even a recreational vehicle. You can take advantage of the mortgage interest deductions, even if you rent it out part of the year, as long as you spend some time there yourself.

In the end, just make sure that you spend at least 14 days at your second property, or more than 10 percent of the number of days it is rented out. If you do not, the IRS could attempt at considering the home a residential property, which means a cut in your interest deductions.

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Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide, an informational website about various types of loans.