Article originally published by Barrons.com

Written by Cheryl Winokur Munk

“With valuations high and many boomers gearing up for or entering retirement, many investment property holders could be rethinking their strategy around real estate ownership.”

“It’s a big issue for many people nearing and in retirement given that there’s an estimated $6.4 trillion in net worth that people over age 55 have tied up in investment properties, according to estimates from Realized, a platform that provides real estate wealth solutions.

“Especially coming out of the pandemic, many older people may not want to deal with being a landlord anymore, having to perform tasks like rent collection and property management, says Rob Johnson, head of wealth management at Realized.

“While now could be a great time to exit with valuations so high, there are multiple things to consider before you just up and sell. Here’s what financial advisors are telling clients.

“Think ahead. Anyone considering selling an investment property should consult with tax, financial, and real estate professionals before making a decision. Ideally, these discussions will take place before the property owner retires to leave enough time to properly strategize, says Nell Cordick, senior vice president and financial advisor at Bogart Wealth, which has offices in Virginia and Texas.

“A major factor in these discussions should be taxes. “When people haven’t done the proper tax planning ahead of time, they are shocked at the tax results of selling an investment property. What they thought would be their net [proceeds from the sale] is much, much lower because of the tax consequences,” she says.”

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