The time limits associated with a 1031 exchange are critical, with a 45-day identification period and a total exchange period of 180 days. Compliance with these timelines is essential for a successful exchange and the deferral of capital gains taxes.
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.
A 1031 exchange agreement is a tax deferral strategy that allows individuals or businesses to sell an investment property and reinvest the proceeds into a like-kind property, without incurring immediate capital gains taxes.
An IRC Section 1031 Exchange (“Exchange”) is a tax benefit that allows investors to defer the capital gains tax normally due on the sale of investment real estate or real estate held for productive use in a trade or business (sometimes as much as a 35% combined rate – state and federal).
A 1031 exchange allows investors to defer capital gains tax on the sale of one investment property by reinvesting the proceeds into another like-kind property. The like-kind exchange must involve real estate properties, not personal property (except in specific cases, such as real estate businesses).
The property must be a business or investment property, which means that it can't be personal property. Your home won't qualify for a 1031 exchange. However, a single-family rental property that you own could be exchanged for commercial rental property.