A Qualified Intermediary, or QI, is an independent third party to the transaction whose function is to prepare the documents necessary to create the exchange, as well as to act as the independent escrow agent for the exchange funds.
Lack of Liquidity- Exchanging properties continually can tie up funds in real estate, making it hard for an investor to access liquid capital if required. While real estate can be a profitable investment, it's not as liquid as some other assets.
Section 1031(f) provides that if a Taxpayer exchanges with a related party then the party who acquired the property in the exchange must hold it for 2 years or the exchange will be disallowed.
Steps to a 1031 Exchange Step 1: Contract and Exchange Documents. Step 2: Settlement of Relinquished Property. Step 3: 45-Day ID Period. Step 5: Settlement on Replacement Property. Step 6: Reporting the exchange to the IRS. 1031 HELPFUL LINKS.
You can perform a 1031 exchange with foreign properties, so long as your relinquished and replacement properties are both located outside the United States. For example, an investment property in the Cayman Islands can be exchanged for rental property in the Cayman Islands or for investment property in New Zealand.