Read the original article posted in New England Real Estate Journal about 1031 DST Investments.
As part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted in late December 2017, the definition of eligible property for Section 1031 exchanges was changed dramatically. After many decades of allowing exchanges of personal (i.e., non-real) property, Section 1031 treatment is now restricted to real property exchanges. This statutory amendment not only changed what qualifies for tax-deferred exchanges, but it also appears to have had an impact on the entire landscape of the 1031 exchange industry going forward.
Provided that real estate retains its current value, the syndicated 1031 exchange properties market is poised to extend the growth it has realized over the last four years. During that span, we have seen an increasing demand for 1031 solutions by individual investors looking to diversify, minimize risk and realize their specific financial goals. Numerous sponsors have entered the market to try and meet that demand, but 1031 DST (Delaware Statutory Trust) investments have proven to be the industry’s most adaptable solution.
A DST is considered a separate legal entity formed as a trust under Delaware Law. Classified as a grantor trust, which is a disregarded entity under federal income tax law, any investor that purchases an interest in the trust will also acquire an undivided interest in the asset(s) held by the DST, if the DST is structured to comply with IRS guidance. As detailed in Revenue Ruling 2004-86, the DST cannot purchase additional assets, accept additional contributions of assets, renegotiate loan terms, enter in or renegotiate leases, make structural changes or sell or exchange property to reinvest proceeds. This allows for the investor to use the beneficial interest in a DST as replacement property to complete their 1031 exchange.
We’re now fresh off another record year for DST investments, with 2018 totaling $2.52 billion in securitized 1031 sales, compared to a total of $1.97 billion in 2017. Industry leaders Inland, Passco, and Exchange Right have revolutionized the market for DST investments by building a large portfolio of properties to offer as a viable tax-deferral vehicle, paving the way for other real estate investment companies to begin offering DST options.
The private placement investment opportunities offered by these companies provide a solution for investors seeking replacement property to satisfy their exchange as well as for investors seeking a quality, multiple-owner real estate investment. There are a number of requirements that a DST interest must meet to fulfill the qualifications of a 1031 exchange — which is why it’s important to do advanced planning and consulting with your professional advisors prior to exchanging, investing in, or structuring a DST.
Importance of Due Diligence with 1031 DST Investments
It’s crucial for investors to assess all 1031 exchange offerings and do their due diligence to understand the risks associated with each investment. Lack of liquidity is one of the most common disadvantages of 1031 DST investments. An investor’s equity will remain invested until the property is sold by the DST. With an expected investment period of five to ten years, a DST is considered a long-term investment. In the case of a 1031 replacement property that is owned solely by the investor, by comparison, the investor has complete control over the decision to sell the real property and is better positioned to take advantage of improvements in the market. Some companies have been experimenting with investor-friendly resale solutions to help investors to sell their interest to an accredited investor. Still, DSTs remain an illiquid investment and there is no public market in which investors can sell their ownership interest.
Maintaining management control can be seen as a benefit or a drawback to DST investment, depending on one’s perspective. If the goal is to defer your taxes and earn a monthly check from a piece of institutional real estate, DST investments could be a beneficial solution. But if you prefer to dictate the day-to-day operations, you may want to look at other options.
There are many advantages to an investor using a DST investment to satisfy their 1031 exchange needs. Any loans borrowed to purchase the property are underwritten to the DST, meaning the lender has no recourse to the individual investor’s other assets. Compared to purchasing a higher-cost property directly, the typical minimum investment of $100,000 gives a DST investor the flexibility to diversify their exchange into several properties. Additionally, the transfer of any beneficial interest in a DST is somewhat easier to accomplish because less paperwork is required than when buying a property directly. All of this helps fuel the 1031 DST investment market’s current popularity.
As the market continues to grow, it’s more important than ever to establish best practices for investment administration that can prevent fraud and abuse from occurring. Engaging JTC Americas, formerly NES Financial, as the administrator of a DST provides the security, transparency and compliance expected by investors. JTC Americas provides a full-service solution for all accounting and reporting requirements to make sure your DST remains in compliance with tax regulations and investors are able to realize the tax-deferral benefits.
At JTC Americas, we’ve put together an industry-leading track record of 1031 success, with tens of thousands of transactions and more than 25 years in the business. Members of our legal and Client Services team have decades of experience handling 1031 exchanges and we’ve built a cutting-edge administration platform, called eSTAC®, from the ground up to maximize transaction security, transparency, and compliance.
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