Using a Delaware LLC for Real Estate Investment
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nvesting in real estate can be a lucrative business, especially in a high demand area. Though not every investment yields returns, if you can afford the upfront costs of purchasing a property, both short and long-term investment strategies can be profitable.
The term “real estate investors” includes a diverse group. A single person purchasing a “summer home” that she rents in the offseason is a real estate investor, as is someone who buys, fixes and flips several properties per month. What all these people have in common is a need to separate their investments from their personal assets.
Forming a real estate investment company does just that, but it’s not quite that simple. If you’re investing in real estate, or planning to start, it’s important to understand your options. This post reviews how to determine which state to choose as your home, and why LLCs for real estate investment are the most popular entity among real estate investors.
Is Delaware the Best State for My Real Estate Investment Company?
As with any business formation, you can choose which state in which to file. The most popular choices include Delaware, Wyoming and Nevada. Of course, many investors choose their home state, since they have to pay taxes to that state to operate. However, the three aforementioned states – and Delaware, in particular – offer some great additional benefits.
What sets Delaware apart from other states is its Court of Chancery. Delaware relies on experienced judges (known as chancellors), and not juries, to rule on corporate law cases. This is the primary reason why more than two thirds of Fortune 500 companies are Delaware corporations, not to mention the tens of thousands of other companies that file in Delaware each year.
Another benefit of choosing Delaware for a real estate investment company is that Delaware allows LLCs and corporations to file privately, without the names of the owners on public record. This is ideal for separating yourself from your business operations.
Best Business Structure for Real Estate Investors
In most cases, an LLC is a simpler solution for real estate investors than a corporation. Some may have a specific reason to choose a corporation (such as a plan to sell equity in the company), but LLCs for property ownership are popular because they can be filed quickly and easily, while providing a strong layer of protection for its member(s).
It is important to note that while corporations can file privately in Delaware, their first annual report (and each subsequent one) must include the names of its Directors and all addresses, at which point this information is on public record. This is not true of LLCs, which remain private year after year.
LLCs also typically require less effort to maintain each year. In Delaware, an LLC pays a flat annual tax of $300, regardless of revenue or any other measure of business.
The simplest case is a single-property investor. If you have one rental property in Florida, for example, you can form a Delaware LLC to hold the title of the property. Because the property – and thus the business operations – is in Florida, you will have to obtain Foreign Qualification in Florida to operate your Delaware company there. This involves an application and fee, as well as an annual tax paid to Florida, in addition to the $300 tax for Delaware.
So, why doesn’t a Florida real estate investor just form the company in Florida? The answer is simple: Florida doesn’t provide the same protections, referenced earlier, that a Delaware company provides.
This is not to say that many investors don’t do just that. Indeed, it is not uncommon for an investor to opt for lower upfront and annual costs, rather than the long-term protection of a Delaware company. This decision is essentially a risk assessment – do you choose lower cost and high risk (including the possibility of being sued for everything you own), or higher cost and low risk? Often, the peace of mind is a return on investment in and of itself, not to mention the actual savings if a lawsuit is filed against you.
Multiple properties (especially spanning multiple states) or a combination of rentals and “flip” investments create additional considerations. Your unique situation will dictate your ultimate business structure. Educate yourself on common asset protection strategies for real estate investors, so you can make an educated decision.
Starting a Real Estate Investment LLC
Before creating an LLC for real estate, there is some basic information you need to provide.
While Harvard Business Services specializes in Delaware formations, we will also help you form your LLC in any state. You can view our Delaware formation packages on our website or contact us for help getting started.
All we need to know in order to file your limited liability company (LLC) or corporation in Delaware is:
- Type of company
- Name of company
- Communications contact person (must be an individual)
- Street address (city, state, country and postal code), which can be anywhere in the world
- Email address
- Telephone number, landline or mobile
- Initial LLC member(s) or corporation director(s)/shareholder(s)
- Shipping and billing address
- Method of payment
LLC Operating Agreement for Real Estate Investors
Once you form you real estate investment LLC, the next step is to create an operating agreement. In Delaware, the operating agreement is not actually filed with the state; it’s just maintained internally within the organization. However, because it does have legal standing, it is imperative that every LLC have a current operating agreement on file.
If you'd like to learn more about creating a Delaware LLC for a real estate investment company, you can get started by forming an LLC on our website.
*Disclaimer*: Harvard Business Services, Inc. is neither a law firm nor an accounting firm and, even in cases where the author is an attorney, or a tax professional, nothing in this article constitutes legal or tax advice. This article provides general commentary on, and analysis of, the subject addressed. We strongly advise that you consult an attorney or tax professional to receive legal or tax guidance tailored to your specific circumstances. Any action taken or not taken based on this article is at your own risk. If an article cites or provides a link to third-party sources or websites, Harvard Business Services, Inc. is not responsible for and makes no representations regarding such source’s content or accuracy. Opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Harvard Business Services, Inc.
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There are 4 comments left for Using a Delaware LLC for Real Estate Investment
Falaya said: Monday, March 15, 2021A very informative article really increased my knowledge thankyou so much for sharing your article with us.
HBS Staff replied: Monday, March 15, 2021Hi Falaya,
Thank you for reading our article and were glad you enjoyed it.
Property Management Company NZ said: Wednesday, January 27, 2021This is a very informative blog, thanks for sharing about using Delaware llc real estate investment. I liked and it is wonderful to know about so many things that are useful for all of us! Thanks a lot for this amazing blog!!
HBS Staff replied: Friday, January 29, 2021Thank you for reading our article. We are glad you found it helpful.
Bradley Edward Zenker said: Sunday, October 18, 2020Would there be any restriction of a Delware Real Estate Investment LLC investing in properties in Massactusus, New Hampshire, Main, and New York? How many shareholders can you have and are there any restrictions/requirements for International shareholders including banking and funding?
HBS Staff replied: Monday, October 19, 2020Often, our clients have to obtain foreign qualification in any state in which their Delaware company owns property. An LLC does not have shareholders, but rather members, who can live anywhere in the world and can stipulate their ownership interest and responsibilities in the LLC's operating agreement. Any questions about banking restrictions would depend on the policy of the individual bank.
Kenneth Nowling said: Friday, February 7, 2020Do you have Shelf corp LLC available? I am interested in real estate investment with several unit in different states which is better Delaware or Wyoming for this purpose? 818.740.8693
HBS Staff replied: Monday, February 10, 2020Unfortunately, we cannot assist you with shelf companies as we do not offer them. Delaware is often a great choice for our clients for forming a new LLC for real estate investment, but you may wish to consult a tax professional or attorney to help you make the best decision for your needs.