Can you convert investment property to primary residence?
Christopher Davis
Updated on March 14, 2026
First, if you acquire property in a 1031 exchange and then convert it to your primary residence, you must own it at least five years before being eligible for the Section 121 exclusion. The couple rents the house for three years, and then moves into it and uses it as their primary residence for the next three years.
How do I make my rental property my primary residence?
Having Your Rental Property Become Your Main Residence Either way, should you decide to have your rental property become your main residence, you will need to declare this for tax purposes. In other words, you will need to disclose that your investment property is now your principal place of residence (PPOR).
What do I need to know when converting my home to rental?
When a personal residence is converted to rental property, you need to know the basis for depreciation. This is the lower of your adjusted basis in the residence at the date of conversion (purchase price + qualified capital improvements), or the fair market value of the property at the time of conversion.
Can a primary residence be converted to a rental property?
Primary residence converted to rental property and then sold. Do I still qualify for the 250k/500k tax exemption? It can be both.
What was the value of the house when it was converted to a rental?
When the home was converted to a rental on Jan. 1 st its fair market value was $495,000, of which $70,000 was land. Ten years later, she sells the property for $610,000. For simplicity, the example above excludes the potential impact of carryover losses and depreciation recapture.
Do you get a tax break when you convert a house to a rental?
Key point: If you sell a former principal residence within three years after converting it into a rental, the federal home sale gain exclusion break will usually be available. Under that break, you can shelter up to $250,000 of otherwise-taxable gain or up to $500,000 if you are married.