As a real estate investor, you may have heard about the 1031 exchange, a tax-deferred strategy that allows you to sell a property and reinvest the proceeds in another property without paying capital gains taxes. However, you may need to become more familiar with the DST, or Delaware Statutory Trust, a popular investment vehicle for 1031 exchange investors. This blog will discuss the top 10 benefits of investing in a DST during your 1031 exchange.
Diversification:
With a DST, you can invest in a portfolio of properties, which allows you to diversify your real estate holdings and reduce your risk. This is especially important if you currently own a single property or a few properties in the same geographic area.
Professional management:
When you invest in a DST, the properties are professionally managed by a trustee, which means you do not have to worry about day-to-day management tasks such as tenant screening, rent collection, and maintenance. This allows you to be a passive investor and enjoy a steady stream of passive income.
Access to institutional-grade properties:
Many DSTs invest in institutional-grade properties such as apartment buildings, office buildings, and shopping centers. These properties are often not available to individual investors, so investing in a DST allows you to access a higher quality of real estate assets.
No need for financing:
When you invest in a DST, you do not need to obtain financing, as the properties are already fully financed. This means you do not have to worry about qualifying for a loan or making mortgage payments, which can be a significant burden for some investors.
Reduced liability:
Because you are investing in a trust, your liability is limited to your investment in the trust. This means you do not have to worry about personal liability for any potential lawsuits or claims against the properties.
Professional due diligence:
Before a DST is offered to investors, it undergoes extensive due diligence by a team of real estate professionals. This includes a thorough analysis of the property’s financial performance, market conditions, and potential risks. This ensures that the properties in the trust are high-quality and have the potential to generate steady income for investors.
Tax advantages:
Like all 1031 exchanges, investing in a DST allows you to defer capital gains taxes on the sale of your property. Additionally, because the trust is structured as a pass-through entity, the income generated by the trust is not subject to corporate taxes. Instead, the income is passed through to the investors, who are responsible for paying taxes on the income.
Potential for appreciation:
While the primary goal of investing in a DST is to generate steady income, there is also the potential for appreciation in the value of the properties. If the properties in the trust increase in value over time, the investors may benefit from a higher return on their investment.
Lower minimum investment:
Because you are investing in a trust along with other investors, the minimum investment required for a DST is often lower than the minimum investment required for individual properties. This makes investing in a DST more accessible to a wider range of investors.
Flexibility:
Finally, investing in a DST provides investors with flexibility. Because the trust owns a portfolio of properties, investors can sell their shares in the trust at any time without having to sell the properties themselves. This allows investors to adjust their real estate holdings to meet their changing investment goals and needs.
The Bottom Line
Investing in a DST during your 1031 exchange offers numerous benefits, including diversification, professional management, access to institutional-grade properties, no need for financing, reduced liability, professional due diligence, tax advantages, and the ability to invest in real estate without the hassle of day-to-day management. It is important to note that investing in a DST is not without risk, and investors should carefully evaluate the potential risks and benefits before making a decision.
However, for many investors, a DST can be an excellent option for diversifying their real estate portfolio and generating passive income while enjoying the tax benefits of a 1031 exchange. If you are considering a DST investment, be sure to consult with a financial advisor or real estate professional to determine if it is the right choice for your investment goals and risk tolerance.
We, at Investment.org, connect you with the best-in-class financial and investment advisors who analyze your goals, based on your personal risk appetite, and help you meet them. Our team of advisors work closely with you and provide the latest 1031 exchange property lists. This list helps you identify the right replacement property in less than 3 days.
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