1031 Exchange: The Most Important Thing to Know

Using a 1031 Exchange to grow your real estate portfolio faster using Uncle Sam’s money is a strategy that has helped millions of investors.

But of all the things you need to know about a 1031 Exchange, the most important thing is that it must be in place BEFORE you sell your investment real estate. The moment you receive your sale proceeds, it’s TOO LATE and you will have to pay the tax. Many investors new to this tax deferral method have discovered this after their sale and paid for it – literally.

The great news is that even if you are closing tomorrow or don’t know when you will close, it is quick and easy to start your exchange. Once you know what title company will be handling the transaction, the exchange can be initiated on your behalf by your Qualified Intermediary (QI).

Initiating your exchange with a QI prior to your sale is a rule that is a critical thing to keep in mind as you continue to learn about 1031 exchanges. I hope you will use the free online resources here at www.the1031investor.com as you explore this option.

Depreciation: The Gift With a Catch

When it comes to selling investment property, depreciation is a gift with a catch. When you own the property depreciation tax deduction is a wonderful thing. The IRS essentially lets you pretend that your property is losing value at an even rate over 27 1/2 years (39 years if it’s a commercial property. You get to take that pretend loss as a tax write off – Bonus!!!

But wait. The IRS wants that tax break back when you sell the property. It is one of those “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help” kinds of things. And it gets even worse. Even if you have never taken the depreciation allowance tax benefit on your tax return, the IRS will make you pay back what you could have taken when you sell. That’s how naughty it is. In the words of Lord Bramwell “Like mothers, taxes are often misunderstood but seldom forgotten.”.

In comes the knight on shining horse – the 1031 exchange. When you complete a 1031 exchange you get to defer the tax on all gain and the dreaded “depreciation recapture”.

A 1031 exchange allows you to defer all capital gains tax and depreciation recapture when you sell and purchase investment property. The key to the 1031 is that you must use a 3rd-party qualified intermediary to manage the 1031 process. And they must be in place prior to the close of your sale—you cannot simply sell and reinvest. It is this intermediary who can guide you through the wilderness of IRS rules around tax deferral, so you don’t get burned by a helpful IRS.

The Note Closers Show Podcast

Dave Foster on The Note Closers Show

Dave Foster was recently featured on The Note Closers Show with Scott Carson. Dave and Scott talked about the great benefits IRC Section 1031 has to offer. It allows investors to sell a property and reinvest proceeds in a new property while deferring capital gain taxes. They discussed some of the ways you can use this process to help you invest in real estate and notes, how it can be used even if you have owner financing and what kinds of investment properties qualify. Anyone can do a 1031 Exchange so long as the process and principles are followed.

They also talked about how to minimize the top five risks in note investing, return on investment vs. return on time, and the role of the borrower filing bankruptcy and how it creates an additional opportunity for a note investor, among other things.

Listen to the episode at iTunes, Google Podcasts or on your favorite podcast streaming service!