Real Estate Moves Fast. The Accounting Has to Keep Up.
A transaction closes. A property changes hands. A 1031 exchange has a deadline that does not move. The tax consequences of how that deal was structured were determined before the ink dried, and if no one was thinking about them at the time, they do not go away. They just become more expensive to address.
Real estate is one of the most complex industries to account for correctly. The transactions are large, the tax law is layered, and the difference between a well-structured deal and a poorly structured one is not always visible until years later. Builders, developers, investors, and property managers operating in Seattle and Everett need accounting professionals who understand the industry, not generalists who handle real estate occasionally.
Maris works with real estate clients across the full spectrum of the industry. The approach is not a standard package applied to every client. It is a customized engagement built around how your business operates and what it needs to stay profitable and compliant.
The Tax Law Is Complicated. The Planning Has to Come First.
Real estate tax law rewards owners who plan and costs those who do not. Depreciation schedules, cost segregation, capital gains treatment, installment sales, and the rules governing 1031 exchanges all create opportunities to reduce tax liability significantly. They also create traps for owners who move forward without understanding the implications.
Maris stays current on real estate tax law so that tax planning is built into every transaction, not applied after the fact. When you are evaluating an acquisition or a disposition, the tax consequences of different structures are part of the analysis before a decision is made, not a surprise after it is finalized.
What We Do for Real Estate Clients
The work covers the full range of what a real estate business needs from an accounting firm.
On the tax side, that means tax compliance and planning, Section 1031 exchange assistance, capital gains strategy, and tax credits including energy, solar, enterprise zone, and low-income and affordable housing credits. On the business side, it means cash flow and budgeting analysis, outsourced CFO services, payroll, bookkeeping, and financial statement preparation. For transactions, it means due diligence on proposed acquisitions, lease audits, bank financing support, business and real estate valuations, and disposition planning.
For clients facing more complex situations, Maris also handles real estate investment trust consulting, internal control audits, succession planning, and litigation support including fraud investigation.
Who We Work With
Maris serves real estate clients across every part of the industry: residential and commercial builders, land developers, property managers, building owners, property investors, agents and brokers, hotel operators, private equity real estate funds, and REITs. The accounting challenges are different for each. A property manager's books look nothing like a developer's, and a private equity fund has reporting requirements that bear no resemblance to those of an individual investor.
That is why the engagement starts with understanding your specific business rather than applying a template to it.
The Accounting Should Not Be What Slows You Down
Real estate is competitive and the margins on a deal can shift quickly. Economic conditions change. Financing terms tighten. A transaction that looked straightforward surfaces complications during due diligence. Owners who have accurate books, a current tax plan, and an accounting firm that understands the industry are positioned to move when the opportunity is there and to protect what they have built when conditions get harder.
Maris & Associates CPAs provides real estate accounting services to builders, investors, developers, and property professionals across Seattle, Everett, and Snohomish County. Contact us to talk through what the engagement looks like for your specific situation.