There's a sophisticated tax reduction strategy for real estate. Called cost segregation, it recognizes that a property is not a unified whole. There is the land, building, HVAC, plumbing fixtures, furniture, and so on. A clever use of software to make it easier to manage is one example of subtle ways technology can help CRE.

Interior and exterior components of the property, under the tax codes, likely have different allowable depreciation periods. According to tax consultancy KBKG, "On average, 20% to 40% of those components fall into tax categories that can be written off much quicker than the building structure," typically using 5-, 7-, and 15-year periods to lower taxes and increase cash flow.

But remembering that there is no such thing as a free lunch, there is a cost to using the strategy: effort. Someone has to do the study to determine the breakdown of depreciation categories. According to the IRS, "In general, a study by a construction engineer is more reliable than one conducted by someone with no engineering or construction background. However, the possession of specific construction knowledge is not the only criterion. Experience in cost estimating and allocation, as well as knowledge of the applicable tax law are also important criteria."