---
title: 1031 EXCHANGE PROPERTIES - BASIC RULES
description: There are 6 basic rules of a 1031 exchange and you need to make sure you know all of them if you want to ensure a prperly executed 1031 exchange.
image: https://blog.fgg1031.com/hubfs/fgg-rules-of-1031.jpg
---

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# 1031 EXCHANGE PROPERTIES - BASIC RULES

By [Paul Getty](https://blog.fgg1031.com/blog/author/paul-getty)

  

[1031 Exchange Properties Guide](https://fgg1031.com/)

The origin of [1031 Exchanges](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_Revenue_Code_section_1031) dates to 1921 and the related provisions which permit tax deferrals have been extensively used by many taxpayers to save taxes. While specific details have evolved over time, there are basic rules outlined below which apply to almost all 1031 Exchanges and 1031 Exchange Properties

**Rule #1** – Both the property being sold and the property being acquired must be held for a period of an investment or used in a trade or business. The taxpayer’s primary residence will not qualify.

**Rule #2** –The properties in an exchange must be “like-kind.” Fortunately, the IRS allows a very broad interpretation of what is permitted and any type of income producing real property can be exchanged including land to apartments, apartments to commercial, a single-family rental to a retail store, etc. Only real properties qualify and other forms of real estate ownership such as REITs, stocks, partnership interests, etc. do not qualify.

**Rule #3** – Stated time limits must be strictly observed. From the day you close the sale of your income property, you have 45 days to identify the properties you might want to buy. The most common identification rule allows you to list up to three properties with no limitations. There are allowed options for identifying more than three properties if desired. You will then need to close the purchase of your replacement properties within 180 days of the date of the sale of your property (or 135 days after your 45 day identification period expires). Carefully note that days are measured as calendar days and include weekends and holidays. There is generally no exceptions and failure to follow these dates will result in a loss of all potential benefits.

**Rule #4** – You are not allowed to take control or possession of any of the sales proceeds related to the exchange. Any funds that you receive will be subject to taxes and no longer eligible for a 1031 Exchange. The rules require that your sales proceeds be transferred to the account of an independent third party called a Qualified Intermediary or Accommodator who will complete the exchange on your behalf. Unfortunately, [Qualified Intermediaries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualified_intermediary) are not licensed or regulated and there have been past abuses when unsuspecting investors allowed their funds to be transferred to Qualified Intermediaries who misused and even lost funds. Fortunately, there any many reputable firms that provide Qualified Intermediary services and only those who have been properly qualified should be considered.

**Rule #5** – The entity that holds the title to the sold property must be the same entity that purchases the replacement property. Any entity, such as individuals, corporations, trusts, partnerships, LLCs, etc. may do an exchange.  For example, if Paul and Jan are married and hold joint title to an income property they are selling, both Paul and Jan must take title to the new replacement income property.

**Rule #6** – To defer all of your[ capital gains tax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_gains_tax), you must a) buy a property of equal or higher value than the one you sold b) you must reinvest all of the cash proceeds from the sale and, c) you must replace all of the debt on your sold property with either same or greater debt or invest added cash to offset the debt. As an example, if you sell a property worth $1 million that has $500,000 of equity and a $500,000 loan, you must replace the sold property with a property valued at $1 million or greater having at least $500,000 in equity from your sold property. You can add more cash at any time without negatively impacting the exchange.

These are the basic rules that apply to almost all 1031 Exchanges and [1031 Exchange Properties](https://fgg1031.com/investments). However, the tax code governing the full range of 1031 Exchange options and complications that can exist runs to many hundreds of pages. All investors who wish to consider a 1031 Exchange are strongly advised to seek the advice of a qualified tax advisor before initiating the exchange process.

Citations- nnn investment properties, 1031 exchange,  tic 1031 exchange,  nnn triple net, 1031 tic exchange, 1031 triple net, nnn 1031, nnn properties,  1031,  nnn 1031 exchange trust

 

### [Paul Getty](https://blog.fgg1031.com/blog/author/paul-getty)

Paul M. Getty is one of the most experienced 1031 exchange specialists in the United States, with a career in real estate that spans over 35 years and more than $5 billion in commercial transactions across every major asset class. His work covers single-family rentals, apartments, retail, office, multifamily, and student and senior housing, giving him a practical understanding of how different property types perform across market cycles and how investors can move between them using tax-deferred exchange strategies. As President and CEO of FGG1031 | First Guardian Group, Paul advises investors through the full 1031 exchange process, from identifying qualifying replacement properties to structuring acquisitions through Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs) and wholly owned real estate. His guidance covers both the compliance requirements of a valid exchange and the investment decisions that determine long-term portfolio outcomes – a combination that is difficult to find in a single advisor. Paul holds a California and Texas real estate broker license and carries Series 22, 62, 63, and 82 securities licenses as a registered representative with Emerson Equity LLC, member FINRA /SIPC. He has represented buyers and sellers across complex commercial transactions, sourced and structured debt and equity, and worked alongside nationally recognized firms including Marcus Millichap, CBRE, JP Morgan, and Morgan Stanley. Before founding FGG1031, he co-founded Venture Navigation, a boutique investment banking firm whose M&A and IPO activity generated over $700 million in investor returns. Paul holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Wayne State University. He has also completed coursework in artificial intelligence at Stanford University. He is the author of four books on real estate investing and tax deferral strategy, including Tax Deferral Strategies Utilizing the Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) and Real Estate Investing in the New Era, both available on Amazon. A frequent speaker on 1031 exchanges, DST investing, and real estate tax strategy, Paul Getty is a recognized voice for investors and advisors seeking guidance on capital preservation through tax-deferred real estate investment.

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Disclaimer: There is no guarantee that any strategy will be successful or achieve investment objectives. All real estate investments have the potential to lose value during the life of the investments. This material does not constitute an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Such offers can be made only by the confidential Private Placement Memorandum (the “Memorandum”). Please be aware that this material cannot and does not replace the Memorandum and is qualified in its entirety by the Memorandum.

This material is not intended as tax or legal advice so please do speak with your attorney and CPA prior to considering an investment. This material contains information that has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. However, FGG1031, First Guardian Group, LightPath Capital, Inc., and their representatives do not guarantee the accuracy and validity of the information herein. Investors should perform their own investigations before considering any investment. There are material risks associated with investing in real estate, Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) and 1031 Exchange properties. These include, but are not limited to, tenant vacancies, declining market values, potential loss of entire investment principal.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results: potential cash flow, potential returns, and potential appreciation are not guaranteed in any way and adverse tax consequences can take effect.  The income stream and depreciation schedule for any investment property may affect the property owner’s income bracket and/or tax status. An unfavorable tax ruling may cancel deferral of capital gains and result in immediate tax liabilities. All financed real estate investments have a potential for foreclosure. Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) investments are commonly offered through private placement offerings and are illiquid securities. There is no secondary market for these investments. Like any investment in real estate, if a property unexpectedly loses tenants or sustains substantial damage, there is potential for suspension of cash flow distributions. Costs associated with the transaction may impact investors’ returns and may outweigh the tax benefits.

IRC Section 1031, IRC Section 1033, and IRC Section 721 are complex tax codes; therefore, you should consult your tax and legal professional for details regarding your situation.

DST 1031 properties are only available to accredited investors (generally described as having a net worth of over one million dollars exclusive of primary residence) and accredited entities only (generally described as an entity owned entirely by accredited individuals and/or an entity with gross assets of greater than five million dollars). If you are unsure if you are an accredited investor and/or an accredited entity, please verify with your CPA and Attorney prior to considering an investment.

Securities offered through registered representatives of [LightPath Capital, Inc.](http://www.lightpathcapital.com/) Member [FINRA](http://www.finra.org/) / [SIPC](https://www.sipc.org/). FGG1031, First Guardian Group, and LightPath Capital, Inc. are separate entities.

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FGG1031 | First Guardian Group and Emerson Equity LLC do not provide legal or tax advice. Securities offered through [Emerson Equity LLC](http://www.emersonequity.com/) Member [FINRA/SIPC](http://finra.org/) and MSRB registered. Emerson Equity LLC is unaffiliated with any entity herein.

1031 Risk Disclosure:

- There is no guarantee that any strategy will be successful or achieve investment objectives;
- Potential for property value loss – All real estate investments have the potential to lose value during the life of the investments;
- Change of tax status – The income stream and depreciation schedule for any investment property may affect the property owner’s income bracket and/or tax status. An unfavorable tax ruling may cancel deferral of capital gains and result in immediate tax liabilities;
- Potential for foreclosure – All financed real estate investments have potential for foreclosure; ·Illiquidity – Because 1031 exchanges are commonly offered through private placement offerings and are illiquid securities. There is no secondary market for these investments;
- Reduction or Elimination of Monthly Cash Flow Distributions – Like any investment in real estate, if a property unexpectedly loses tenants or sustains substantial damage, there is potential for suspension of cash flow distributions;
- Impact of fees/expenses – Costs associated with the transaction may impact investors’ returns and may outweigh the tax benefits

No offer to buy or sell securities is being made. Such offers may only be made to qualified accredited investors via private placement memorandum. Risks detailed in a private placement memorandum should be carefully reviewed, understood and considered before making such an investment. Prospective strategies and products used in any tax advantaged investment planning should be reviewed independently with your tax and legal advisors. Changes to the tax code and other regulatory revisions could have a negative impact upon strategies developed and recommendations made. Past performance and/or forward looking statements are never an assurance of future results.

Many of the investments offered will be only available to those investors meeting the definition of an Accredited Investor under SEC Rule 501(A) and offered as Regulation D private placement securities via a Private Placement Memorandum (“PPM”). Prospective investors must receive, read and understand all of the risks associated with buying private placement securities. Investments are not guaranteed or [FDIC](http://fdic.org/) insured and risks may include but are not limited to illiquidity, no guarantee of income or guarantee that all tax advantages or objectives will be met and complete loss of principal investment could occur.

**Risk Disclosure:** Alternative investment products, including real estate investments, notes & debentures, hedge funds and private equity, involve a high degree of risk, often engage in leveraging and other speculative investment practices that may increase the risk of investment loss, can be highly illiquid, are not required to provide periodic pricing or valuation information to investors, may involve complex tax structures and delays in distributing important tax information, are not subject to the same regulatory requirements as mutual funds, often charge high fees which may offset any trading profits, and in many cases the underlying investments are not transparent and are known only to the investment manager. Alternative investment performance can be volatile. An investor could lose all or a substantial amount of his or her investment. Often, alternative investment fund and account managers have total trading authority over their funds or accounts; the use of a single advisor applying generally similar trading programs could mean lack of diversification and, consequently, higher risk. There is often no secondary market for an investor's interest in alternative investments, and none is expected to develop. There may be restrictions on transferring interests in any alternative investment. Alternative investment products often execute a substantial portion of their trades on non-U.S. exchanges. Investing in foreign markets may entail risks that differ from those associated with investments in U.S. markets. Additionally, alternative investments often entail commodity trading, which involves substantial risk of loss.

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