Using a Family Limited Partnership for property

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Q. My family is thinking of buying an investment home. Do we need to buy it with a Family Limited Partnership, and how would that work?
— Wondering

A. Using a Family Limited Partnership (FLP) is one option.

Family Limited Partnerships are used effectively as an estate tax planning tool if you are planning in the future to gift out interests to family members, said Ken Bagner, a certified public accountant with Sobel and Co. in Livingston.

“The interests can be discounted to reduce the effects of estate taxes which still remain in New Jersey on any estate over $675,000,” he said. “The Family Limited Partnership also provides the flexibility to allocate profit, losses and cash flow generally as you deem fit inside the partnership.”

Bagner said the entity is easily set up and you would need to file an annual partnership tax return on behalf of the entity.

But if you need to borrow to buy the home, a partnership may make it difficult.

“The one issue you may encounter is the ability to find a qualified lender to loan you funds for your purchase if you are not buying the property outright,” Bagner said. “Some lenders shy away from loaning to a family limited partnership.”

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This post was first published in October 2016.

NJMoneyHelp.com presents certain general financial planning principles and advice, but should never be viewed as a substitute for obtaining advice from a personal professional advisor who understands your unique individual circumstances.