A gift of real estate can consist of almost any type of property: a primary residence, a vacation home, a farm or ranch, a commercial building, subdivision lots or an undeveloped parcel. Such a gift will provide a charitable deduction for the full fair market value of the gift up to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income if you have held it for more than one year. The usual five-year carry-over also applies.
Through various methods of managing property and arranging for its distribution to family and others, you can minimize taxes and worries for your heirs. You may also be able to arrange a supplemental income for retirement through a charitable trust as part of your gift, or give a home while continuing to live there.
You will need to have your gift of real estate appraised by an independent appraiser to determine the value of your deduction, and you should first consult with the College Heights Foundation to make sure your real estate is appropriate to the needs of the University.