What is a 1031 Exchange DST?
Can a 1031 Exchange DST be Used as a 1031 Tax Deferred Exchange?
A 1031 Exchange DST, or 1031 Exchange Delaware Statutory Trust, is a separate legal entity created as a trust under Delaware statutory law. Delaware law permits a very flexible approach to the design and operation of the entity. However, to use a DST in a Section 1031 tax-deferred exchange private placement program, it is necessary to comply with the requirements of IRS Revenue Ruling 2004-865 so that a beneficial interest in the trust is treated as a direct interest in real estate for income tax purposes.
It is also necessary to meet lender requirements, especially if the loan is to be securitized. An efficient and popular vehicle for protecting assets and structuring capital market transactions, a Delaware Statutory Trust is often the special purpose entity of choice for securitizations, liquidations, premium finance programs, life settlements, investment funds, real estate acquisitions, tenant-in-common structures, and much more. CSC Trust Company of Delaware (CSC Trust) can assist you in forming a Delaware Statutory Trust in a cost efficient and expeditious manner.
Whether you need active trust administration or a passive resident trustee solely for the purpose of meeting statutory requirements, we will partner with you at every stage to ensure the success of your transaction.
How is a 1031 Exchange DST Structured?
What makes the Delaware Statutory Trust, 1031 Exchange DST, work so well for investors is having the ability to let numerous potential investors vie for the chance to purchase a beneficial interest. While at first glance this may look and sound risky, the opposite is actually true. Under this arrangement, the master tenant simply acquires the property under the Delaware Statutory Trust umbrella and allows investors to join up. This allows them to do one of two things with their money, which is either deposit standard 1031 Exchange profits into the 1031 Exchange DST or purchase an interest in Delaware Statutory Trust directly.
With these options investors can find themselves owning such types of property as apartment buildings, medical offices, or even large shopping malls.
Benefits of a 1031 DST Exchange
Delaware Statutory Trusts Can Be A Good Solution To Common 1031 Exchange Challenges
Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs) Likely Defer 100% Capital Gains Taxes & Avoid Taxable Gains on Boot
1031 exchange Into DSTs allows deferral of higher taxes and the 2013 Obamacare Medicare surcharge of 3.8%. Total taxes on investment real estate sales can exceed 40 to 55% making 1031 exchange an option to defer capital gains taxes. The exact dollar amount of the replacement property is a common challenge in 1031 transactions. An investor may sell a relinquished property for $1,000,000 and then find a replacement property for $825,000. The difference in the price of the relinquished property and the price of the replacement property results in a taxable amount on the remaining $175,000. Purchase a DST for $175,000 and defer all capital gains taxes.
DSTs May Solve for Lack of Inventory In The Market
There are limited listings in today’s real estate market making it difficult to find suitable 1031 exchange replacement properties. DSTs are prearranged replacement properties that can close in as little as three business days.
Access Institutional Quality Real Estate
DST investors can access institutional quality 300-unit apartment complexes, long term leases with high quality credit tenants and other quality real estate normally not available to individual investors. Institutional quality properties can exceed $40,000,000 in price – however – DST investors can access these properties with as little as $100,000 in equity.
DSTs May Be Used as Back Up Properties For 1031 Identification
Many investors identify replacement properties using the “3 Property Rule” meaning the investor can identify three replacement properties, regardless of purchase price, by the 45th day. Identifying just one replacement property is not ideal as that one property may not ended up closing due to a variety of reasons; inspections, due diligence or financing etc… It may be wise for an investor to identify a DST or two as back up identification items as a precautionary measure.
Completely Passive Real Estate Ownership – No Property Management Hassles
Many investors have grown tired of the Terrible T’s of property ownership: Tenants, Toilets, Trash, Termites, Teenagers. DSTs have professional property management as part of the ownership structure allowing you to replace the Terrible T’s with the Terrific T’s: Travel, Time Off, Tennis, Tee’ing Off.
Ability To Close Quickly
DSTs may be able to close escrow quickly – often in as little as three business days – allowing projected cash flow to begin sooner.
DSTs Provide Easy-To-Assume Non-Recourse Financing
In 1031 exchange transactions, the debt paid off on the relinquished property must be replaced in the new property. Property owners may have difficulty in acquiring financing on their replacement property. On a $10,000,000 property sale with $4,000,000 of debt, the replacement property needs to have $4,000,000 of debt or greater to avoid debt boot (tax on debt reduction). DSTs have prearranged debt allowing property sellers to easily get the debt they need and avoid debt boot. This debt solution can be particularly helpful in situations where the owner can not get approved for debt. The DST will be the borrower of any loan and investors do not need to be qualified by the lender. DST debt is non-recourse meaning the DST property owner doesn’t have to personally guarantee the loan. Further, DSTs often have institutional financing which may provide lower interest rates than available to the individual investor.
Diversify Your Real Estate Portfolio
DSTs offer a variety of asset classes from Multifamily, Industrial, Senior Housing, Self-Storage, Triple Net Leased Retail, and Office in different cities across the country. This provides significant portfolio diversification to the real estate investor within the 45-day identification timeframe.
Harvest Dormant Equity and Possibly Increase Cash Flow
Investors may have significant equity in their property that could be earning higher projected cash flow. For example, a client may have purchased a property for $200,000 in the 1970’s and the current equity could be $1,500,000. Many rental property owners of single-family home rentals and smaller apartment complexes may be earning 2 – 2.5% net cash-on-cash return, less if subject to rent-control. DSTs today may have approximately 5% projected cash flow on equity so the income may be better in a DST property. A projected cash flow of a 1031 property is not a certain or guaranteed