So far in 2007, there have been three spectacular 1031 intermediary defalcations: Southwest Exchange of Henderson, Nevada ($100 million), Scoop Daniel of Breckenridge (the attorney that took one million and disappeared), and IXG (locally) and its related companies ($150 million).
All of these problems arise from two systemic problems with the industry: first of all there are no entry barriers to become an intermediary. Both Southwest and IXG were existing intermediary companies that were purchased by people who had no intermediary experience and whose sole intention for purchasing the company, apparently, was to get control of the exchange balance. Locally, Mile High Capital from last year is another example of this problem because according to several press reports they set up their own intermediary company and hired a convicted felon to run it.
It Doesn’t End at 15%
The role of debt in a 1031 exchange
THE FUTURE of The 1031 Exchange Industry