Podcast

Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing with Jonathan Greene

265: Unlocking Tax Incentives for Real Estate Investors with Gian Pazzia

In today’s episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan welcomes Gian Pazzia, chairman and chief strategy officer of KBKG and a pioneer in the cost segregation field. With more than 25 years of experience, Gian has worked on everything from casinos to single-family rentals. He breaks down how real estate investors can legally and strategically use tax incentives, especially cost segregation and bonus depreciation, to significantly reduce taxable income and increase buying power.

Gian explains how cost segregation allows real estate investors to accelerate depreciation, what types of assets qualify, and why even single-family rentals can benefit from the strategy. He also highlights the importance of working with credentialed cost segregation professionals, not just general CPAs, to avoid errors and IRS scrutiny.

The conversation moves beyond cost segregation into estate planning, bonus depreciation, short-term rental strategies, and how real estate professional status can shift an investor’s entire tax position. Gian shares how he and his wife use these strategies in their own 40-unit portfolio, where she handles active management to qualify for real estate professional tax benefits.

From legacy wealth to smarter tax planning, Gian outlines the tax tools that real estate investors often overlook, whether due to skepticism, lack of awareness, or misinformation. His deep expertise makes this a must-listen for anyone serious about optimizing real estate returns through better tax strategy.

In this episode, you will hear:

Ways cost segregation accelerates depreciation to maximize early returns
How paper losses can offset income while keeping cash flow intact
Benefits tied to the return of 100% bonus depreciation in 2025
The strategic tax edge of owning and managing short-term rentals
Property types that yield the strongest cost segregation outcomes
The link between estate planning and the timing of depreciation
What to consider when selecting a qualified cost seg partner
How real estate professional status transforms tax exposure

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