Acquisitions

By Paul Waterloo, Interra Realty 1031 exchanges are an effective way for investors to protect their capital. They also historically have experienced strong fundamentals in the long term. Why, then, aren’t more multifamily investors taking advantage of tax-deferred swaps? Many property owners simply lack the expertise and industry connections to source acquisition opportunities that meet their objectives. This is especially true considering the tight timeframe many 1031 exchanges operate under, as these types of deals have a built-in ticking clock. Once an investor sells an asset, he or she has 45 days to identify a replacement property and 180 days to close. That’s a very short window in which to secure financing and perform proper due diligence. There remains uncertainty among some investors about 1031 exchanges, which allow an investor to defer capital gains on a property sale when those funds are used to acquire a “like kind” property. The IRS considers two assets to be like kind so long as they both are used for business purposes or held as an investment. This means investors may exit one sector and broaden their exposure to another. With the right counsel, however, an investor can make smart decisions that take advantage …