Real Estate Accounting Services

For more than a decade, the experienced CPAs and tax specialists at Barton, Walter & Krier have helped real estate clients meet the growing demands of the market while overcoming the challenges in this highly competitive industry. We analyze key market-drivers such as interest rates, labor shortages, and government regulation to assist you with both your short-and long-term goals.

• How can you obtain the best financing?
• Should you capitalize or expense improvements to property?
• How can you reposition your asset to receive the highest return on investment?
• What are the tax incentives for developing certain properties like commercial real estate projects, multifamily units or public housing?

We understand the nuances of economic cycles and have worked with clients of all sizes including home builders, commercial developers, real estate investors, and property management companies. We can assist with contract negotiations, improving operations, and minimizing tax burdens. And our assurance experts play a key role in ensuring accurate financial reporting so you can confidently secure the funding you need for future investments.

• Cash-flow management

• Budgeting and forecasting

• Audits, reviews, and compilations for reporting to lenders

• Tax planning for refunds and reduction

• Estate planning and wealth preservation

The complex demands of real estate bookkeeping go well beyond what an everyday accountant solution can handle. There are several parties involved, and they require keen attention to detail and apt consulting across the board. Multiple entities are the norm in this industry. A given transaction can include an LLC and various partnerships, requiring separate books that are well organized to create a coherent picture.

For example, real estate developers require bookkeeping that can keep pace with their schedules and budget tracking. These timelines can span months and sometimes even years. On the operational side, property management accounting comes with its own unique challenges. Managers and their accounting teams have to manage separate books for income, expenses, and reserves across multiple properties simultaneously.

Tax planning for real estate investors and developers involves ongoing evaluation and adjustments often dictated by the entity type. How a business is structured—LLC, S-corp, etc.—can have real consequences that compound over time.

Those consequences become especially apparent when it comes to sell, exchange, or transfer of a property. The wrong approach can trigger significant capital gains tax liability. However, when handled properly, 1031 like-kind exchanges can defer capital gains.

BWK has provided real estate CPA services to the Twin Cities area for over a decade. We’re trusted by builders and contractors, commercial developers, investors, and property managers across Minneapolis, St. Paul, and beyond. 

We understand the Minnesota-specific considerations. That includes local regulatory requirements as well as market drivers specific to the metro. 

Learn more about how Barton, Walter & Krier can help grow your real estate or developer business. Contact us today to speak with an accounting or assurance professional.