Episode Overview

House hackers are making a critical mistake that’s costing them thousands in taxes AND preventing them from qualifying for their next property. The solution? A strategic approach that maximizes write-offs while keeping lenders happy.

Chris Lopez hosts this essential episode with two Colorado house hacking experts who’ve cracked the code on tax optimization. Jeff White, top-producing broker and active house hacker, recently saved $12,000 in taxes while still qualifying for his next investment property. Troy Howell from Nova Home Loans breaks down exactly how lenders evaluate house hacker tax returns and why most investors get it wrong.

The game-changing insight: Jeff almost went too conservative on his tax write-offs, leaving money on the table unnecessarily. By sending his draft tax return to Troy before filing, he discovered he could take full deductions and still qualify easily for his next purchase. This strategy is now saving him thousands annually while building his portfolio faster.

Plus, they reveal the Matt case study – a W2 employee who house hacked an $810,000 fourplex with only $36,000 down using proper tax positioning and lending strategy.

In This Episode We Cover:

• Why self-employed house hackers struggle with loan qualification (and the draft tax return solution)


• How to write off 75% of your expenses legally when living in a fourplex


• Schedule E breakdown – what lenders actually look for in your tax returns


• Repairs vs capital improvements – the $5,000 furnace decision that could save you thousands


• Record keeping systems that make tax time effortless (apps vs spreadsheets)


• Why 90% of CPAs don’t understand real estate investors (and how to find the 10% who do)


• Depreciation strategies that create phantom losses while lenders add them back


• And So Much More!

Whether you’re planning your first house hack or scaling to property number five, this episode provides the tax foundation you need to build wealth faster while keeping the IRS and your lender happy. The strategies discussed could save you thousands in taxes while accelerating your ability to acquire more properties.

Don’t let poor tax planning kill your next deal – these insights from two Colorado house hacking experts could be the difference between building wealth and staying stuck.

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Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

02:37 – W2 vs Self-Employed Income – Critical Lending Differences

04:20 – Jeff’s $12K Tax Savings Strategy – Balancing Write-Offs with Loan Qualification

06:13 – Matt’s W2 House Hack – $810K Fourplex with Only $36K Down

19:12 – Live-In Flip Strategy – Renovating While House Hacking

10:50 – Essential Tax Deductions Every House Hacker Must Know

15:58 – What Every House Hacker Needs to Know

17:20 – Record Keeping Systems – Apps vs Spreadsheets That Actually Work

20:14 – Schedule E Breakdown – What Lenders Really Look At

22:57 – Allocation Methods – Unit vs Square Footage for House Hackers

24:42- Write-offs Repairs vs Capital Improvements – The $5K Furnace Dilemma

29:20 – Finding a Real Estate CPA – Why 90% Don’t Understand Investors

Links from Podcast

Nova Home Loans

Join our next House Hack Meetup

Download our Free Toolkit

Connect with our Guests:

Troy Howell: troy.howell@novahomeloans.com

• LinkedIn: Troy Howell

Jeff White: Jeff@envisionrea.com

• LinkedIn: Jeff White

Who is Nova Home Loans?

For over 40 years, we’ve been focused on helping homeowners find the perfect loan to fit their financial needs and personal goals. Working with NOVA is a personalized experience from initial application to final loan closing and beyond. We will be with you every step of the way toward successful homeownership. Start working with NOVA & Troy Howell today!

NOVA FINANCIAL & INVESTMENT CORPORATION, DBA NOVA HOME LOANS NMLS 3087/ EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY/8055 EAST TUFTS AVENUE, SUITE 101/DENVER, CO