1031 Exchange FAQs

To accomplish a full tax deferral on the sale of rental property you must follow the IRS Section 1031 Guidelines. Corcapa 1031 Advisors recommends the following:

• Be in communication with your Corcapa 1031 Advisors representative well ahead of your proposed relinquished property sale closing date so we can begin to research and identify potential replacement property.

• Be sure to select and assign a Qualified Intermediary “QI” or Accommodator to receive the sale proceeds from escrow. Corcapa can recommend QIs for you. Be sure to research the financial backing of QIs before selecting them. Be especially careful to NOT take personal receipt of the funds or your exchange will be invalidated.

• From the day you close your relinquished property, you will have 45 days to identify your replacement property(ies). This identification must be in writing, and can follow one of three possible identification rules:

1. 3-property rule: Up to three properties are identified no matter what their value.
2. 200 percent rule: Any number of properties is identified as long as their combined fair market value (FMV) does not exceed 200% of the FMV of the relinquished properties.
3. 95 percent rule: Any number of properties are identified no matter what the aggregate FMV, provided 95% of the value of the identified properties is acquired.

• The investor must close on the identified replacement property(s) within 180 days from the close date of the relinquished property. This is an additional 135 days from the end of the 45 day period in which to close on your replacement property(ies).

• Additionally, for full tax deferral you must purchase equal or greater purchase price, equal or greater debt and reinvest all cash.

• Please review the IRS publication here for further details: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Like-Kind-Exchanges-Under-IRC-Code-Section-1031

While Corcapa is happy to refer you to accommodators, we cannot provide accommodator/Qualified Intermediary services. We specialize in the replacement properties for our clients’ 1031 exchanges.

A DST is an acronym for a Delaware Statutory Trust which is fractional ownership of real estate. In 2004 the IRS issued a Revenue Ruling clarifying the terms on structuring a DST investment for 1031 purposes. Please review the IRS Revenue Ruling 2004-86

The Revenue Ruling 2004-86 issued by the IRS governs how the DST should be structured so that the real estate program is likely to fit within the guidelines of a 1031 exchange. TICs have a Revenue Procedure 2002-22 that discusses the 15 structure points TIC programs should have in order to receive a “should level” tax opinion. Corcapa works with sponsors of DST and TIC offerings who structure the offerings with a legal opinion from experienced industry attorneys for 1031 exchange purchases. We recommend that you discuss this with your tax and legal advisors and we will provide all documentation to these advisors to use in analyzing your replacement property options.

This depends on the velocity of the real estate market. Currently there is a significant upswing in 1031 exchange activity and also an upswing in the purchase of DST properties. More attractive DST offerings can sell out quickly so its important to alert you Corcapa representative early on and let them know you have a pending 1031 exchange. This way we can be very proactive in finding the replacement properties that fit you needs.

Most clients prefer to have a closing on their replacement properties sooner so as to begin earning income. Its possible to have a closing on your DST within three to ten business days. Alternatively, clients may prefer to wait a few weeks to close escrow on their replacement property and this can easily be arranged.

One advantage of closing escrow sooner on your DST purchase is that the cash flow begins to accumulate immediately after closing and is paid with the first distribution the following month.

Yes, DST ownership is similar to traditional real estate ownership and the year-end tax reporting will detail your share of the depreciation expenses.

Projected cash flow begins the very next month after investment. For example, if you close on your DST purchase on August 15th, you will typically receive a distribution on September 15th for all the days you were invested in August. The October distribution would be a full month distribution for all of September and so forth. Investors can elect to receive the distributions via direct deposit or a mailed check, although almost all investors choose direct deposit. A projected cash flow of a 1031 property is not a certain or guaranteed payment and payment is not assured.

The DST sponsor will provide you quarterly reporting delivered either electronically or via mail. There is a comprehensive year-end report provided which also gives you the tax reporting information you would provide to your accountant to complete your taxes.

The most common reasons that investors select DSTs are:

• Potentially Greater Cash Flow Than They Are Currently Receiving: Most DSTs have between a 4.00% – 5.50% projected cash flow based on the anticipated rental income less expenses. For example, if you invest $1,000,000 of equity into a DST with a 4.5% projected cash flow, this would provide a projected net annual income of $45,000. This could be a higher net cash flow than you are currently receiving on your rental property. As with all real estate the income cannot be guaranteed because the rental income and expenses can increase or decrease unexpectedly.
• Ability to Diversify: You can reinvest your relinquished property sale proceeds into multiple investments in different cities, states, and asset classes such as apartments and net lease retail.
• Non-Recourse Loans: Virtually all the loans within the DSTs that are approved by DAI Securities, LLC are non-recourse which means the investor does not personally guarantee them.
• Easier Financing: Access to financing for investors needing debt on their replacement property
• Passive Ownership Structure: Many investors desire to reduce their active property management as they grow older and DSTs offer passive ownership.

We recommend that all clients review each PPM in detail and consult their tax and legal advisors to full understand the benefits and risks of the investment. Corcapa 1031 Advisors is happy to attend a meeting with your tax and legal advisors or have a conference call to answer all questions.

LTV is Loan To Value – which means the amount of loan associated with the property. If a property is 50% loan to value (also called 50% leveraged) this means there is a 50% cash down payment and a 50% loan associated with the property. DST loans are non-recourse which means investors are not required to provide personal guarantees. Debt adds risk to any property but the newly assumed non-recourse debt may add to your depreciation basis, which may shelter a significant amount of cash flow from taxation.

Basis from the relinquished (sold) property to the replacement (new) property must be carefully tracked and calculated by your tax professional to ensure a successful 1031 exchange.

In 1031 exchange your gain is deferred until a sale occurs or there is a step up in basis.

A very simple basis can look something like this: the price you paid for the property, less depreciation claimed over the years of ownership, plus any improvements to the property, plus any additional adjustments.

One way to garner additional depreciable basis, and subsequently shelter to cash flow, is to acquire debt with leveraged DSTs. This debt brings risk that would not occur in an all cash property but the benefit is the potential shelter of income.

When the new replacement property is sold in the future (assuming no further 1031 exchange), the original deferred gain, plus any additional gain realized since the purchase of the replacement property, is subject to tax.

You must report an exchange to the IRS on  Form 8824, Like-Kind Exchanges and  file it with your tax return for the year in which the exchange occurred.

Form 8824 asks for:

• Descriptions of the properties exchanged
• Dates that properties were identified and transferred
• Any relationship between the parties to the exchange
• Value of the like-kind and other property received
• Gain or loss on sale of other (non-like-kind) property given up
• Cash received or paid; liabilities relieved or assumed
• Adjusted basis of like-kind property given up; realized gain

If you do not specifically follow the rules for like-kind exchanges, you may be held liable for taxes, penalties, and interest on your transactions.

Most of the DSTs have loans associated with the properties to help the clients meet the debt needs of their relinquished property. These loans are typically Non-Recourse which means the investor does not sign off on guarantees of the loan. The Lender makes a loan to the Trust, who is the sole borrower. If the Trust should ever default on the loan, the only liability is your initial investment.

We also have no debt – all cash – properties for investors who do not have debt to replace on their exchange or who simply choose to maintain an all cash DST ownership.

Each offering has a detailed Private Placement Memorandum (PPM) to review which clearly explains the fee structure. Every offering is slightly different, but you can review the specific fees which are generally found in the Estimated Use of Proceeds table. You do not pay an outside check or fee to Corcapa upon purchase. Should you choose to buy a DST offering through Corcapa the sponsor pays us a commission based on the equity you invest. Fees are paid by the buyer, so most offerings are marked up approximately 6-10% to cover the expenses of the transaction. Despite these fees, if the projected cash flow is 4.5% on a $1,000,000 equity investment, the annual income is anticipated to be $45,000.