Posted by Michael Morrongiello American Note on December 28, 1999 at 23:00:27:
I am not a tax practioner but, assuing you seller is not a “Dealer” in real estate then it is my understanding that by offering to finance the sale to you, he avoids capital gains tax and his profit is treated under the “installment sale method” for tax purposes. This means he pays taxes each year on the amount of principal and interest paid to him. Clearly there are numerous tax advantages to this way of reporting ones profit over having to shell out a lump sum especially if there has been a big run up in the properties value over its original cost basis.
Michael Morrongiello
Operations Manager