Article Archive

Sun
05
Jun

What is a “Reverse” 1031 Exchange?

Submitted by Gary Gorman on Sun, 06/05/2005 - 01:00

A 1031 exchange is a valuable tax shelter when you sell investment or business property. Instead of just selling, you take the money you had invested in your Old Property and reinvest in a New Property ("exchanging" the Old for the New) through a Qualified Intermediary (or Q.I.), following I.R.S. guidelines.

Pay attention to the term "New." To complete a 1031 exchange that will qualify under the rules, you have to acquire a property that is new to you -- meaning, you can't apply your sale proceeds to a property you already own, or even a property that you have owned any time in the past 18 months. This means you can't have an exchange if you ever own the Old and New Properties simultaneously.

Thu
05
May

The "Year-and-a-Day" Rule: Great advice, but it's not The Law

Submitted by Curtis Moore on Thu, 05/05/2005 - 01:00

Recently we encountered a great deal of confusion concerning 1031 Exchanges and the so-called "year-and-a-day" rule. You've probably heard that you should hold both your Old and New Properties for at least a year-and-a-day prior to and after completing a 1031 Exchange -- and this remains sound advice.

However (and this is a HUGE "however") THE "YEAR-AND-A-DAY RULE IS NOT THE LAW. Nowhere in Section 1031, the regulations, tax court decisions, or any other authority will you find any mention of a "year-and-a-day" rule. The "year-and-a-day" rule is only a guideline divined from a few Tax Court decisions, a non-binding IRS ruling stating that holding property for at least two years in a particular instance was fine, and common sense considerations - for instance, long-term capital gains kick-in after holding property for a year.

Thu
14
Apr

Garrett Sutton Interview with Gary Gorman

Submitted by Gary Gorman on Thu, 04/14/2005 - 01:00

Introduction: The Entrepreneur Magazine Legal Show with Garrett Sutton, Live Tuesdays from 10-11am Pacific time: 888-327-0061; The IRS allows you to sell real estate without paying taxes. Using a special section of the IRS code, you can exchange properties tax free. Introduction: Gary Gorman, author of, "Exchanging UP! How to build a real estate investing empire without paying taxes using 1031 exchanges." What does a 1031 exchange do? Rolling gain from the Old Property over to the new. What do I have to do to get tax free treatment? The 6 things: 1. Both the Old Property you're selling and the New Property you're buying have to be held for investment. Can you use your personal residence for this? Investment property; can I buy any other kind of investment property?

Sat
05
Mar

Can You Exchange the Converted?

Submitted by Curtis Moore on Sat, 03/05/2005 - 01:00

 

A NonReligious Look at 1031 Exchanges and Apartment-Condo Conversions...

Apartment-condominium conversions have become a very lucrative way to make money in real estate these days. They are very popular in resort areas as people see that individual condominiums are worth more as separate units as compared to a single apartment building for rent. In addition, investors and developers are converting office buildings for rent into office condominiums for similar reasons. However, a question we are frequently asked by our clients is whether such a conversion will qualify for a 1031 exchange. The short answer is "maybe," as long as they are structured properly

Wed
02
Mar

“Fix-and-Flips” ...Exchangeable? or Audit-Fodder?

Submitted by Curtis Moore on Wed, 03/02/2005 - 01:00

A couple of months ago, you discovered a real diamond-in-the-rough -- a good house in serious disrepair. Upon closer inspection, you realize that all of the problems are merely cosmetic. With a little money and hard work, this ugly duckling can become a beautiful, and highly lucrative, swan.

So, you acquire the property, perform your work, and a couple of months later, you list the property for sale. Happily, you soon receive a full-price offer-- netting you a sizeable profit! Not so happily, you discover that short-term capital gains taxes will eat a huge chunk of your earnings! What to do?

Take heart - all is no lost. You may be able to do a 1031 Exchange. However, a "fix-and-flip" must be structured in exactly the right manner to potentially qualify for a 1031 Exchange. And, even then, performing a 1031 Exchange on a "fix-and-flip" is a risky proposition because of the very nature of the "flip," or quick resale.

Tue
01
Mar

Everything's Relative ...except in 1031 exchanges

Submitted by Gary Gorman on Tue, 03/01/2005 - 01:00

One of the trickiest rules to figure when structuring a 1031 exchange is the rule involving exchanges between related parties. Can you defer capital gain taxes with an exchange if you sell a property you own to a relative? What if you sell your property to a third party but buy your replacement property from a relative? What if you and a relative wish to swap properties? The answer to all these questions is .....sometimes. The reason for that cop-out answer is because the IRS is a little unclear about when it will and will not allow a related party exchange.

So, what is a related party? In IRS terms, a related party includes certain blood relatives (like siblings and children), spouses, and business entities you may own, like corporations or partnerships.

Tue
01
Feb

The Mystery of the 1031 Holding Period

Submitted by Curtis Moore on Tue, 02/01/2005 - 01:00

 

Is there a holding period for property involved in a 1031 Exchange?

This may be the single-most asked question we hear in the 1031 Exchange business. Exchangers have a suspicion that there’s a “holding period” requirement for exchanges – meaning, that they have to “hold” (own) a property for a certain time period before or after doing an exchange, in order to qualify. In truth, these people are both right and wrong.

They’re right in that the amount of time a property is owned – both the Old (or Relinquished) Property and the New (or Replacement) Property - is a major factor in determining whether a property qualifies for exchange.

However, they’re wrong in thinking that the issue comes down to an official time period.

Sat
04
Dec

Donna Fries Interview with Gary Gorman

Submitted by Gary Gorman on Sat, 12/04/2004 - 01:00

Introduction: Gary Gorman and Donna Fries on the Real Estate 101 Radio Show. - New things that have happened in the 1031 industry. - Some new tax laws: Big court case. - The new 1031 book: Exchanging Up!, available on Amazon.com. - The 1031 Experts is built on referrals.

New law changes in 2004. - The change in §121 and how it affects §1031. - How to take gain tax-free. - The effect: the change in the holding period to get that gain. - If you sell an investment property and buy a property that becomes your home. - Is this strictly if it's a 1031 exchange going into the property? - Does this only affect people who are rolling into their home from some other investment property? - The good part: this clears up a former controversy and makes it crystal clear.

Tue
28
Sep

IRS extends 1031 deadlines due to a RARE special circumstance

Submitted by Michael Eloranto on Tue, 09/28/2004 - 01:00

In a VERY rare move, the IRS granted deadline extensions to some taxpayers for their 1031 exchanges. The IRS granted the extensions due to the hardships caused by Hurricane Charley and Tropical Storm Bonnie.

The IRS doesn't make the rules, but is required to enforce them. It's like a traffic cop monitoring people evacuating an area where a storm is approaching; he can't change the speed limit, but he can choose to extend grace to victims by not writing the ticket. In this special circumstance, the IRS has chosen not to enforce tax deadlines in 26 select Florida counties.

Sat
04
Sep

1031: 101 - Tax-Deferred Real Estate Exchanges for Beginners

Submitted by Curtis Moore on Sat, 09/04/2004 - 01:00

The sheer number of investment vehicles available to you these days is absolutely staggering. Stocks, bonds, precious metals, commodities, options, derivatives, real estate, etc., etc., etc. - it can make your head spin! Now, all things being equal, none of these investments are better than any other. If you know what you're doing, you can make money in any of them.

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