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Find a Real Estate CPA

CPAs who specialize in real estate — investors, syndications, agents, brokers, and developers. Cost segregation, 1031 exchanges, REPS, and partnership returns done by people who actually know the rules.

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When to hire

You own rental property and want depreciation done correctly
You're planning a 1031 exchange or just completed one
You qualify (or want to qualify) for Real Estate Professional Status
You're investing in a syndication and got your first K-1
You're a real estate agent or broker filing Schedule C or as an S-corp

What they do

Schedule E rental income and expense optimization
Cost segregation analysis and bonus depreciation planning
1031 like-kind exchange tax structuring and reporting
Real Estate Professional Status (REPS) and material participation analysis
Partnership returns (1065) and K-1s for syndications and joint ventures

Typical fees

What it costs

Low end

$800

per year

High end

$5,000+

per year

Notes

Single rental: $300–$600 added to 1040. Multi-property + REPS: $1,500–$3,500. Syndication returns (1065): $2,500–$10,000.

Compare

Real Estate CPA vs Generalist CPA

Factor	Real Estate CPA	Generalist CPA
Cost segregation	Standard offering	Often refers out
1031 exchanges	Routine	Rare — risky to handle occasionally
REPS documentation	Proactive tracking	Reactive at year-end
Syndication K-1s	Handles 10–100+ per year	Limited experience
Industry fee benchmarking	Yes	No

Questions to ask

How many real estate investors do you serve, and what types?
Do you run or coordinate cost segregation studies?
How do you document REPS qualification?
Can you handle 1031 exchange reporting on Form 8824?
Do you work with my QI (qualified intermediary) directly?
Do you prepare 1065 partnership returns for syndications?

Red flags

Doesn't track basis or accumulated depreciation by property
Misses passive activity loss limitation rules
Recommends REPS without understanding the 750-hour test
No experience with 1031 exchange timing rules (45/180 days)
Treats short-term rentals the same as long-term rentals

Documents to prepare

Closing statements (HUD-1 / ALTA) for every property
Depreciation schedules from prior CPA
Rent rolls and operating expense summaries
1031 exchange documentation if applicable
K-1s from any syndications or partnerships

By city

Real Estate Accountants in major U.S. cities

Houston, TX

Dallas, TX

Los Angeles, CA

San Francisco, CA

New York City, NY

Miami, FL

Chicago, IL

Atlanta, GA

Boston, MA

Seattle, WA

Other specialties you might need

Small Business CPAs Partnership Accountants Tax Planning Construction Accountants LLC Accountants

FAQ

Find a Real Estate CPA — common questions

What is cost segregation and is it worth it?+

Cost segregation reclassifies portions of a building into shorter-life assets (5, 7, 15 years) to accelerate depreciation. For properties over ~$500K, the present-value tax savings typically far exceed the study cost of $3K–$15K.

What is Real Estate Professional Status (REPS)?+

A tax status allowing rental losses to offset W-2 and active income. Requires 750+ hours per year and more than half your working time in real estate trades or businesses, with material participation in each property.

How does a 1031 exchange work?+

Sell investment real estate, identify replacement property within 45 days, and close within 180 days through a qualified intermediary — deferring capital gains and depreciation recapture. Strict timing and identification rules apply.

Are short-term rental losses treated differently?+

Yes. Average guest stays of 7 days or less can avoid passive activity rules, allowing losses to offset other income if you materially participate — without needing REPS.

Do real estate agents need a specialist CPA?+

Agents earning $100K+ usually benefit from S-corp election analysis, expense tracking, and retirement plan setup — work most generalist CPAs don't do well for commission-based earners.

This information is general and does not constitute professional advice. Consult a licensed professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Real Estate Accountants · Verified Directory

Tax strategy built for real estate investors

CPAs and accountants for real estate investors, syndicators, developers, and agents. Cost segregation, 1031 exchanges, REPS, depreciation strategy, and partnership returns.

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Cost segregation and bonus depreciation

1031 exchanges and Real Estate Professional Status

Syndication, fund, and partnership returns

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Real Estate Accountants accepting new clients

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Real estate accounting playbook

What a real estate CPA actually does for you

Depreciation guidance

Depreciation is the largest non-cash deduction in most real estate portfolios — and the area where the right CPA pays for themselves many times over. Residential rentals depreciate straight-line over 27.5 years; commercial over 39. Cost segregation studies reclassify 20–35% of basis into 5, 7, and 15-year property, pulling huge deductions into year one and pairing well with bonus depreciation.

Cost segregation studies for properties over ~$500K basis
Bonus depreciation strategy (60% in 2024, stepping down)
Section 1250 recapture planning at sale and via 1031
Short-term rental (STR) loophole and material participation

Investor accounting

Active investors typically operate through a stack of LLCs and partnerships. The right CPA structures entities for liability, financing, and tax efficiency — then keeps the partnership returns, K-1s, and capital accounts clean year after year. For syndicators and funds, that work expands to waterfall calculations, preferred returns, and investor-level reporting.

Entity structure (LLC, series LLC, holding co) and operating agreements
Form 1065 partnership returns and K-1 issuance to investors
Capital account tracking under tax basis and §704(b)
Syndication waterfalls, preferred returns, and promote calculations
Real Estate Professional Status (REPS) qualification and documentation

Rental property bookkeeping

Clean rental books make the difference between a one-week tax engagement and a four-week cleanup. A real estate bookkeeper tracks income and expenses at the property level, reconciles bank and mortgage accounts monthly, handles security deposits as liabilities, and produces a Schedule E-ready package each January.

Per-property P&L and balance sheet in QuickBooks, Stessa, or Rentec
Monthly bank, mortgage, and CapEx reconciliation
Security deposits tracked as liabilities, not income
Capital improvements vs repairs — correctly classified for depreciation
Year-end Schedule E package for your tax preparer

1031 exchanges and dispositions

A 1031 like-kind exchange defers gain and depreciation recapture indefinitely — but only when the strict 45-day identification and 180-day close timelines are met with a qualified intermediary. A real estate CPA coordinates with the QI, calculates boot, and updates basis on the replacement property.

Vetting checklist

Questions to ask before hiring real estate cpas

1
Are you a licensed CPA or EA, and in which states are you registered?
2
What does engagement scope, pricing, and turnaround actually look like?
3
Who on your team will do the work, and how do we communicate month to month?
4
How do you handle deadlines, IRS or state notices, and audit support?
5
Can you share two references from clients similar to my business?

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Compare your options

Hiring a verified real estate cpas vs. going it alone

Factor	Verified Real Estate CPAs	DIY / generalist
Specialized expertise	Trained in real estate accountants	General-purpose advice
Time investment	1–2 hours to onboard	10+ hours per filing cycle
Audit defense	Represents you to the IRS	You handle correspondence
Year-round planning
Typical cost	Quoted up-front	$0 software + your hours
Risk of missed deductions	Low — proactive review	High — software only flags what you enter

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By city

Find Real Estate CPAs by city

Houston, TX

Houston CPAs serve energy, healthcare, and the city's vast small-business community.

Dallas, TX

Dallas accounting firms anchor finance, real estate, and corporate headquarters across DFW.

Los Angeles, CA

LA's accountants specialize in entertainment, real estate, and creative-industry tax planning.

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco CPAs serve startups, venture-backed companies, and complex equity-comp clients.

New York City, NY

NYC's accountants cover Wall Street, media, real estate, hospitality, and the small businesses of all five boroughs.

Miami, FL

Miami's CPAs specialize in international tax, real estate, hospitality, and Latin American business.

Chicago, IL

Chicago accountants serve professional services, manufacturing, logistics, and the Midwest's largest corporate base.

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta's CPAs support film, fintech, logistics, and one of the country's most dynamic small-business scenes.

Boston, MA

Boston-area accountants serve life sciences, higher education, financial services, and innovation-economy startups.

Seattle, WA

Seattle CPAs serve tech, aerospace, and the Pacific Northwest's deep entrepreneurial bench.

Washington DC, DC

Washington DC accountants serve federal contractors, nonprofits, associations, and the law firms that anchor the capital's economy.

Baltimore, MD

Baltimore CPAs serve healthcare systems, port and logistics operators, biotech, and the city's deep nonprofit and higher-ed community.

Richmond, VA

Richmond CPAs serve Fortune 500 headquarters, banking and insurance, tobacco-to-tech manufacturers, and Virginia's state-capital legal and government economy.

Birmingham, AL

Birmingham CPAs serve banking, healthcare, steel, and the Magic City's small-business economy.

Anchorage, AK

Anchorage CPAs serve oil and gas, fisheries, federal contracting, and the state's tourism economy.

Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix CPAs serve semiconductors, real estate, healthcare, and one of the country's fastest-growing small-business markets.

Little Rock, AR

Little Rock CPAs serve healthcare, logistics, agriculture, and the state's government and legal economy.

Denver, CO

Denver CPAs serve tech, aerospace, cannabis, and the Front Range's outdoor and energy economies.

Hartford, CT

Hartford CPAs serve insurance, reinsurance, manufacturing, and the broader Connecticut River Valley economy.

Wilmington, DE

Wilmington CPAs serve banking, corporate trust, pharma, and the Fortune 500 entity-formation economy.

Honolulu, HI

Honolulu CPAs serve tourism, military contracting, real estate, and the islands' small-business community.

Boise, ID

Boise CPAs serve tech, agriculture, manufacturing, and a fast-growing relocation-driven small-business economy.

Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis CPAs serve manufacturing, life sciences, logistics, and motorsports.

Des Moines, IA

Des Moines CPAs serve insurance, agribusiness, biofuels, and the state's growing tech economy.

Wichita, KS

Wichita CPAs serve aviation, aerospace, energy, and agriculture.

Louisville, KY

Louisville CPAs serve bourbon, equine, automotive manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics (UPS Worldport).

New Orleans, LA

New Orleans CPAs serve maritime, tourism, oil and gas, and the city's film and hospitality economies.

Portland, ME

Portland CPAs serve tourism, fisheries, forestry, and the state's growing remote-work and craft economies.

Detroit, MI

Detroit CPAs serve automotive, mobility, healthcare, and the broader Southeast Michigan manufacturing base.

Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis CPAs serve Fortune 500 headquarters, medical devices, agribusiness, and finance.

Jackson, MS

Jackson CPAs serve manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and the state's government and legal economy.

St. Louis, MO

St. Louis CPAs serve agribusiness, defense, biosciences, financial services, and logistics.

Billings, MT

Billings CPAs serve agriculture, energy, healthcare, and Montana's tourism economy.

Omaha, NE

Omaha CPAs serve insurance, financial services, agribusiness, and the Berkshire Hathaway ecosystem.

Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas CPAs serve gaming, hospitality, entertainment, real estate, and a fast-growing logistics base.

Manchester, NH

Manchester CPAs serve advanced manufacturing, biotech, healthcare, and a thriving small-business community.

Newark, NJ

Newark CPAs serve pharma, financial services, logistics, ports, and the NYC-metro small-business economy.

Albuquerque, NM

Albuquerque CPAs serve federal labs and defense, oil and gas, film, and tourism.

Fargo, ND

Fargo CPAs serve agriculture, energy, manufacturing, and the Red River Valley's tech and healthcare economy.

Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City CPAs serve oil and gas, aerospace, agriculture, and the state's growing healthcare and bioscience industries.

Portland, OR

Portland CPAs serve tech, athletic apparel, forestry, and the Pacific Northwest's craft beverage and outdoor industries.

Providence, RI

Providence CPAs serve financial services, healthcare, defense manufacturing, and tourism.

Charleston, SC

Charleston CPAs serve ports, aerospace, automotive, hospitality, and a growing tech economy.

Sioux Falls, SD

Sioux Falls CPAs serve financial services, credit card processing, trust administration, and healthcare.

Nashville, TN

Nashville CPAs serve healthcare, music and entertainment, hospitality, and the state's franchise and excise tax compliance.

Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake City CPAs serve the Silicon Slopes tech corridor, outdoor recreation, mining, and financial services.

Burlington, VT

Burlington CPAs serve craft food and beverage, tourism, healthcare, and outdoor brands.

Charleston, WV

Charleston CPAs serve coal and natural gas, chemicals, healthcare, and state government.

Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee CPAs serve manufacturing, insurance, healthcare, and the Lake Michigan industrial corridor.

Cheyenne, WY

Cheyenne CPAs serve energy, ranching, trust administration, and a growing data-center and tech economy.

Charlotte, NC

Charlotte CPAs serve the second-largest U.S. banking center, plus energy, healthcare, motorsports, and one of the fastest-growing relocation markets in the country.

Common questions

About real estate accountants

Is cost segregation worth it?+

For most properties over ~$500K basis, yes. A study typically accelerates 20–35% of basis into shorter-life classes, generating large first-year deductions.

What's REPS (Real Estate Professional Status)?+

An IRS designation that lets qualifying investors deduct rental losses against active income. Strict hour and material participation tests apply.

This information is general and does not constitute professional advice. Consult a licensed professional for guidance specific to your situation.

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Rental Property Accounting Services

Per-door accounting in AppFolio, Buildium, Stessa, and QuickBooks.

Bookkeeping for Real Estate Investors

Property-level books reconciled monthly and tax-ready by year-end.

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Schedule E, passive losses, 1099-NEC, and per-door tax prep for landlords.

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Like-kind exchange modeling, QI coordination, and Form 8824 reporting.

Cost Segregation CPA

Engineering-based studies and Form 3115 catch-up for prior years.

Short-Term Rental CPA

Airbnb & VRBO tax planning — the STR loophole, done correctly.

Schedule E Tax Preparer

Form-specific landlord tax preparation, per-property.

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Per-door books in QuickBooks, AppFolio, Buildium, or Stessa.

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NNN leases, CAM reconciliations, and 39-year depreciation at scale.

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Advisor-grade guides

Downloadable ebooks & templates

CPA-ready playbooks and templates you can use today — instant downloads, no signup required.

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The Definitive Bookkeeping Cleanup & Recovery Guide

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The CPA's December playbook — practical strategies to reduce your tax bill before the year closes.

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The Premium Bookkeeping Template Pack

Automated dashboards, multi-account reconciliations, and CPA-ready reporting workbooks for serious owners and bookkeepers.

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