A written acknowledgment
Our contemporaneous written acknowledgment of the gift, which the IRS requires for any gift of $250 or more.
The real estate donation process, step by step
Talk to a property specialist: (888) 228-7320
The Real Estate Donation Process, Step by Step
Donating real estate to Real Estate with Causes follows the same sequence whatever the property: a conversation, a review, the paperwork and a recorded deed. A single owner with clear title and nothing owed can often finish in a few weeks. Here is each step, who does what, and what you pay for.
Fully IRS Compliant
We Handle the Paperwork
Form 8283 Done Right
501(c)(3) Recognized Charity
From first call to recorded deed
It starts with a call or the form on this page. A specialist asks about the property, who owns it and anything owed against it, and tells you plainly whether a donation looks workable.
1. Review
We look at the county record, title, taxes and any mortgage, lease or environmental question, and agree the structure with you.
2. Appraisal
If you want a deduction over $5,000, you arrange a qualified appraisal from an appraiser you choose. It is your expense, which is what makes it qualified.
3. Documents
Our staff prepares the deed for the property’s state and a gift agreement. You sign before a notary where you live.
4. Recording
We record the deed in the property’s county. From that day, taxes, insurance and liability are ours.
What you pay and what we handle
A donation is not a sale, so there is no escrow, no closing and no agent commission. We prepare and record the deed. The qualified appraisal is the donor’s expense and the donor’s choice of appraiser.
Back taxes, interior cleanout and yard work are usually the donor’s responsibility. On properties where the numbers support it, typically commercial, industrial and some higher-value homes, we have absorbed those costs, so ask about yours rather than assuming.
After the deed records
Three things arrive once the gift is complete.
A signed Form 8283
Where the gift is over $5,000, we sign the donee acknowledgment on your Form 8283.
Form 8282 if we sell early
If we sell the property within three years, we file Form 8282 with the IRS and send you a copy.
Donation process questions, answered
How long does a real estate donation take? +
A single owner with clear title and nothing owed can often be done in a few weeks. Probate, several owners, a mortgage or a tenant adds time, and we tell you on the first call which you are looking at.
Do I need a lawyer to donate property? +
Not necessarily. We prepare the deed and gift documents. Many donors have their own attorney or CPA review them, which we welcome.
When should I get the appraisal? +
A qualified appraisal can be made no earlier than 60 days before the gift and must be received before your return is due. We coordinate timing with you.
Do I need to be there to sign? +
No. You sign before a notary wherever you live, and we record the deed in the property’s county.
What happens to the property after it is ours? +
Most donated property is sold and the net proceeds fund our charitable programs. Some is held and used directly as program housing or office space.
We do not provide tax or legal advice. See IRS Publication 526, Publication 561 and the Form 8283 instructions, and consult your own advisor.
Related guides
Start with a conversation, not a commitment
Tell us about the property and we will tell you plainly whether a donation works and what the next step is.