Real estate is more than just your primary residence. It can include other real estate, such as a vacation home or a rental property. Depending upon the type of real estate you own, the ideal form of ownership can vary. Plus, real estate is probably one of your most valuable assets.  That's why it is important to understand the different types of real estate and the best form of ownership for each.

Primary Residence

Because of the special tax treatment a primary residence receives, you need to carefully consider how to title (i.e., own) your home. “Tenancy by the entirety” offers married couples creditor protection from the creditors of one of the spouses (with a possible exception for federal tax liens) while still preserving relevant tax benefits. It also allows the automatic transfer of ownership to the surviving spouse upon the death of the first spouse, without court involvement. Although Illinois allows real estate to be titled in tenancy by the entirety, it may not be available in all states. 

Transferring ownership of the primary residence to revocable trusts may also be an option if you live in a state like Illinois that allows the tenancy of the entireties protection to transfer to revocable trusts. Ownership by the trusts also means that the real estate will not go through the lengthy, expensive, and public probate process, but will instead be handled according to your wishes as specified in the trust document in a more timely and efficient manner. 

If you are single, owning the property in your sole name allows you to take advantage of tax benefits for primary residences. Similarly, transferring ownership to a revocable living trust or a land trust may also allow you to retain the applicable tax benefits with the added benefit of avoiding the probate process. But beware, not all states accept a land trust. If asset protection is a major concern during your lifetime, certain types of irrevocable trusts are best suited for your needs, but these types of trusts may require you to give up some control of the property.

Also note that the bankruptcy code may provide additional protections for a primary residence (i.e., your state, like Illinois, may have a “homestead” exemption). However, in some states, transferring your primary residence to a trust may eliminate the homestead exemption because the trust will be deemed to be the owner of the residence rather than the debtor. If this situation could apply to you, it is important that you meet with a knowledgeable estate planning attorney before making any transfers of your primary residence to a trust.

Vacation Home

For some families, the vacation home has high monetary value, but also significant emotional valuel. Ownership of a vacation home by a trust or limited liability company (LLC) can be advantageous because it addresses two main priorities: ease of transfer to the next generation and asset protection. 

With a trust or LLC, you are able to determine a set of rules for how the property is to be used and maintained, as well as designate what is to happen to the vacation home once you pass away. This can be a great solution if you want to ensure that the vacation home stays in the family for generations with minimal family conflicts.

An additional benefit of having an LLC own the vacation home is that it provides limited liability from outside claims. If a judgment is entered against the LLC, the creditor is limited to the assets of the LLC to satisfy its claims, not your personal assets or those of the other members. Also, if you or another member have a judgment entered against you for a claim unrelated to the LLC, it will be harder for a creditor to force a sale of the vacation home. This can be incredibly helpful if you wish to pass on the vacation home to the next generation without having to worry about the individual financial situation of each of the new members.

Note: In some states, single member LLCs (i.e., those LLCs that have only on member) do not enjoy the same protection from your personal creditors. The rationale of these laws is that your creditors should be able to seek relief through your LLC interests to satisfy their claims because there are no other members that will be negatively impacted their seizure of money and property owned by the LLC.  

If the vacation home has been in the family for many years, it is important to consult with us and your tax advisor to make sure that transferring your vacation home to a trust or LLC will not cause an increase in your property taxes or other unintended consequences. 

Rental Property

Unlike your residence, the bigger concern with rental property is usually asset protection, especially since the property is generating income for you. As a landlord and owner of rental property, there is a higher probability of lawsuits arising in connection with this type of property since the occupants change over time. For rental property, transferring ownership to an LLC is a great option! If a renter gets injured on the property, sues the LLC that owns the property, and obtains a judgment that exceeds any property insurance you have, the renter can only go after the assets owned by the LLC to satisfy any claims, not your personal assets or those of any other owners of the LLC. 

In addition, ownership by the LLC may protect the rental property from your personal creditors. However, as mentioned above, it is important to have us check state law to make sure creditor protection is available if you are forming a single member LLC.

Give Us a Call Today!

Whether you are concerned about your primary residence, family cabin, or rental property, O'Connor Law offices is here to assist you in protecting this valuable asset. Due to the various considerations for selecting a form of ownership, it is important to have the right advisors helping you along the way. Give us a call so we can discuss your current and future real estate ventures and the best way to protect them for generations to come!