What is a 1031 exchange?
Under section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, a real property owner can sell his property and then reinvest the proceeds in ownership of like-kind property and defer the capital gains taxes. To qualify as a like-kind exchange, property exchanges must be done in accordance with the rules set forth in the tax code and in the treasury regulations. The 1031 exchange can offer significant tax advantages to real estate buyers. Often overlooked, a 1031 exchange is considered one of the best-kept secrets in the Internal Revenue Code.
What are the 1031 exchange rules?
The real property you sell and the real property you buy must both be held for productive use in a trade or business or for investment purposes and must be like-kind.
The proceeds from the sale must go through the hands of a qualified intermediary and not through your hands or the hands of one of your agents or else all the proceeds will become taxable.
All the cash proceeds from the original sale must be reinvested in the replacement property - any cash proceeds that you retain will be taxable.
The replacement property must be subject to an equal level or greater level of debt than the relinquished property or the buyer will either have to pay taxes on the amount of the decrease or have to put in additional cash funds to offset the lower level of debt in the replacement property.
Who should consider a 1031 exchange?
If you have real property that will net you a gain upon sale (generally property that has been substantially depreciated for tax purposes and/or has appreciated in fair market value), then you are exactly the person who should consider a 1031 exchange.
There are 5 tax classes of property:
1) Property used in taxpayers trade or business.
2) Property held primarily for sale to customers.
3) Property which is used as your principal residence.
4) Property held for investment.
5) Property used as a vacation home.
Section 1031 applies to the first and fourth categories, and potentially the fifth category. Business use is defined as, "To hold property for productive use in trade or business." Property retired from previous productive use in business can be qualifying property. Investment purpose defined as real estate, even if unproductive, held by a non-dealer for future use or increment in value is held for investment and not primarily for sale. Investment is the passive holding of property, for more than a temporary period, with the expectation that it will appreciate. Property held for sale in the immediate future is not held for investment.
What is Tenants-in-Common (TIC)?
A TIC is a form of real estate asset ownership in which two or more persons have an undivided, fractional interest in the asset, where ownership shares are not required to be equal, and where ownership interests can be inherited. Each co-owner receives an individual deed at closing for his or her undivided percentage interest in the entire property. Through TIC ownership, the average person is able to enjoy ownership in an institutional-type property with a minimum investment.
What are the benefits of TIC ownership?
The TIC structure has various features that make it attractive to the real estate buyer.
Access to Higher Grade Properties - The typical entrance in whole commercial building begins at $1 million, but through TIC ownership, the average person is able to enjoy ownership in an institutional-type property with a minimum purchase. Besides reliable income and growth potential, these properties are able to attract tenants with greater financial strength and stability than possible for the individual landlord.
Combined Real Estate Experience - As an alternative to sole ownership of real estate, a 1031 buyer can take ownership in a large commercial property along with other unrelated buyers, not as limited partners, but as individual owners. Each of the TIC owners brings their previous real estate knowledge to the group. Thus, each decision of the TIC ownership will be backed by many years of real estate experience.
Lessee with an established history of 1031 experience in Real Estate - Most of the day-to-day property operations are handled by the NNN PLUS lessee. The lessee has extensive experience in real estate. Thus, situations that arise in day-to-day operations will be addressed quickly and efficiently, and the TIC owner will enjoy the freedom from property management.
Simple Management - The TIC owner avoids the time and frustration of dealing with multiple tenants. You no longer deal with "toilets, tenants and trash," and simply receive your monthly rental income from your mailbox. Enjoy "tennis, travel and time with family."
Exact Dollar Matching - In a TIC property, you can purchase any amount above the minimum. For example, if you have $152,479 of equity from the sale of a previous property you can purchase $152,479 of equity in a TIC property.
Low Minimums - Revenue Procedure 2002-22 issued by the IRS allows up to 35 TIC owners in any one property. Minimum purchase requirements are structured to meet this limitation and can range as low as $150,000 equity.
Non-recourse Financing - The mortgages on most of the TIC properties offered by FOR 1031 are non-recourse. The TIC debt structure generally allows for the debt financing to assumed. Assumption usually occurs without the need for qualification or loan assumption fees.
Diversification - Due to the low minimums in TIC properties, the buyer can decrease risk by diversifying into different properties in various different marketplaces.
Speed and Simplicity - Speed and simplicity are achieved due to the efforts of the FOR 1031 team. The negotiation process is complete, and survey, rent rolls, etc. are already completed and available for your review. After your review of all the due diligence used to acquire your property, and upon your approval, you are ready to close. The closing can be completed in days, not months.
No Closing Costs - Absent seller default or other items outside the control of FOR 1031, closings are met within the agreed upon time frame. FOR 1031 does not charge the TIC owners any closing costs.
Deeded Interest - The TIC owners buy the property and receive a deeded interest. You can transfer this interest by gift, sale, inheritance, assignment, etc. Such transfer does not need to coincide with the transfer of all TIC interests in the property. DBSI Housing, if requested to do so by the TIC owner, will assist in the marketing of any TIC interest.
No Special Allocations - All the TIC owners receive monthly rental payments, sale proceeds and the depreciation tax benefits in proportion to their percentage ownership in the property.
Impasse Resolution Procedure - On a decision requiring unanimous vote, such as a sale decision, a 60% - 75% (depending on your TIC agreement) vote by the TIC owners will be sufficient to initiate the impasse resolution procedure. This procedure allows the TIC owners with 60% - 75% (depending on your TIC agreement) or more of the property to make an offer to buyout the dissenting owner with 25% or less of the property. The dissenting TIC owners can either: (1) accept this offer, (2) buy out the 60% - 75% (depending on your TIC agreement) TIC owners at the same price per percentage ownership, or (3) change their dissenting vote to a consenting vote.
Special thanks to For 1031~ TIC Replacement Properties for the above information.
Disclaimer: The above brief description is not to be construed as legal or tax advice and is qualified in its entirety by the actual closing documents. In case of any discrepancy, the actual closing documents will control.
