Appraisal and closing support for land and acquired improvements
MARIN COUNTY PROPERTY OWNERS
Reviewed August 26, 2026 · Updated for current federal bonus-depreciation guidance
High land values make defensible basis allocation essential.
Marin County properties range from San Rafael apartments and medical offices to Novato industrial buildings, neighborhood retail and coastal hospitality. Acquisition prices can include a substantial land component, so the screen begins with a supportable allocation before any building or site cost is classified.
- ✓ No study work before payment
- ✓ CPA-ready final report
- ✓ California statewide
WHY IT MATTERS
Move eligible basis into faster recovery periods.
Older construction, seismic work, multiple tenant buildouts and phased renovations can create several placed-in-service layers. A Marin study should reconcile appraisals, closing records, improvement invoices and fixed-asset schedules, then distinguish structural building systems from qualifying interior assets and exterior improvements using the property’s actual function.
Plain English: you are not creating a new deduction. You are identifying when supported pieces of the property may be depreciated.
WHAT WE REVIEW
Marin County records and improvements to review
Apartment unit turns and common-area renovations
Medical, dental, office and retail tenant buildouts
Hospitality rooms, restaurant areas and guest amenities
Parking, drainage, landscaping, signage and site lighting
Seismic work, additions and capital projects by year
SHOW ME THE NUMBERS
Illustrative San Rafael commercial example
Illustrative only. This assumes a 37% federal marginal rate where shown and that the owner can currently use the deduction.
- Property value
- $8,500,000
- Estimated depreciable basis
- $5,950,000
- Potential faster basis
- $952,000 to $1,428,000
- Potential upfront federal effect
- $352,000 to $528,000
- Study or comparison benchmark
- $12,500 to $25,000+
This is a timing illustration, not guaranteed permanent tax savings. California commonly requires a separate depreciation schedule because it generally does not conform to federal bonus depreciation.
DOES IT FIT?
Strong candidates usually have four things.
✓
Income-producing or business property in Marin County
✓
Recent acquisition, construction or substantial improvement
✓
Land and later improvement basis can be supported
✓
Owner can provide fixed-asset and tenant-work records
STATEWIDE COVERAGE
Serving owners throughout the region.
San RafaelNovatoMill ValleyLarkspurCorte MaderaSausalitoTiburonMarin County
PORTFOLIO PRICING
More properties. Lower cost per study.
Order and pay for the properties together to receive a simple portfolio discount.
2 properties5% off3 to 4 properties10% off5+ properties15% off
STRAIGHT ANSWERS
Frequently asked questions.
Why is land allocation especially important in Marin County?+
Land is not depreciable. In a high-value coastal market, an unsupported allocation can overstate or understate the building basis before component classification even begins.
Can older seismic and tenant improvements be included?+
Potentially. Each project should be tied to its owner, supported cost and placed-in-service year, while removed assets and prior deductions are reconciled to prevent duplication.
Do you need a Marin County office to complete the study?+
No. Intake begins remotely, and property documentation or inspection is coordinated when the paid study scope requires it. We do not claim a local office in every market served.
Is the free estimate a completed study?+
No. It is an illustrative screen using the facts you provide. No engineering takeoff, professional certification or tax opinion is included. Technical work begins only after a signed and paid engagement.
Does my CPA need to approve the study first?+
No. It is smart to ask whether you can currently use additional depreciation, but the paid study does not require advance CPA approval. Your CPA makes the final filing decision.
Do you guarantee tax savings?+
No. A study accelerates the timing of eligible depreciation. Results depend on basis, property facts, placed-in-service dates, passive-loss rules, tax rates and the owner's filing position.
AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES
Reviewed against current IRS and California guidance.
Last reviewed August 26, 2026. Tax rules and procedures can change. Your CPA should confirm the law that applies to your acquisition date, placed-in-service date and return.
FREE PRELIMINARY PROPERTY SCREEN