A 1031 Exchange, in short, is a way for investors to sell an income property and defer the capital gains taxes by buying a new income property (replacement property). A common question from investors is, “When should I start working on my exchange if I know what I am going to sell?” When it comes to planning, there is no such thing as “too early” for an exchange. The more you understand the investment market and process, the more likely you are to make a solid investment decision.
Over the last few years, upwards of 50% of our company’s transactions have involved an investor with a 1031 exchange. With the amount of sale activity in the real estate market due to the increased values, investors have been utilizing the 1031 exchange to protect their capital. If done correctly, with a plan, investors can achieve their financial objectives. If done without a plan, investors can find themselves rushing into the purchase of a bad property and may have been better off paying taxes.
Successful exchanges start with a strong plan – understanding the components of the exchange, the timing, and involving the right team early on. Investors should understand the property type they are seeking, expectations of return, debt needed (if applicable), price point, team (attorney, accountant, broker, intermediary), and timing of the process – starting the exchange process before an investor is closing the sale of a property is key. Taking these steps before an exchange better prepares an investor and allows them to find a good property matching their investment criteria. In the world of real estate exchanges, it could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars – maybe millions if the wrong property is purchased, or worse, the exchange doesn’t go through, and you pay the taxes.
Many of the best deals are done off market. That means if an investor is only looking at properties on the market, they may have a difficult time finding the best opportunities. Trying to learn which property type you want, where you want to invest, and figuring out the investment market while simultaneously looking for a replacement property can be a recipe for disaster.
The best advice for investors who are considering selling an income property and interested in an exchange is:
Meet with your accountant to understand your tax consequences and how an exchange could work for you.
Meet with an investment broker who can put a plan in place based on the amount you will exchange and your investment criteria for the exchange property.
Once you feel comfortable with the options and still want to proceed with the exchange, put your property on the market for sale. Having an exchange plan in place eliminates any concern of what to do after your property sells.
During the time you are in escrow, put an intermediary in place – this is an integral part of the exchange process. The intermediary is a company that will hold your funds after the close of escrow on the sold property until the close of escrow on the exchange property.
If debt is needed, meet with lenders to discuss your financing options, and submit all the information needed to line up your loan.
A 1031 exchange can be a great way to get out of an asset that doesn’t fit future investment goals and into an asset that makes sense for the future. Reduce your risk of making a mistake and talk to professionals before you make any decisions to sell a property. Work together to create a successful plan for the exchange!
Over the past three years, there has been a significant shift in the multi-family real estate market within the Central Valley as well as nationally. The pandemic spurred fundamental changes for the industry as demand for housing surged in the following years to the great benefit of owners and developers eager to meet that demand. As of late, inflation, much higher interest rates, and a record number of delivered units have given tenants stronger leverage in the rental market.
The rate of new construction has fluctuated drastically in the Central Valley since the start of the pandemic. In 2020, the multi-family market saw low vacancy and rents skyrocketing at never-before-seen rates, sparking large amounts of new development projects. Today, we are expecting 1,585 units to be completed in the Central Valley over the next 3 years. However, interest rate increases, along with softening market fundamentals, rising vacancy rates and more stagnant rent growth, have reversed that construction trend. While current projects are still being completed, there are significantly less new developments coming into the pipeline. In 2023, only one new multi-family project broke ground throughout the Central Valley. This trend is also a nationwide phenomenon. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau, the country’s new multi-family construction starts fell by 33.7% over the past year.
The Central Valley has also seen major swings in rent growth in the recent past. Between 2020 and 2022, rent growth exceeded 12% annually in certain areas. In contrast, going into 2024, projected rent growth is expected to be much more modest. It ranges from 1.1% YoY in Modesto to 3.4% YoY in Madera. National rent growth projections are also down as Freddie Mac projects a moderate 2.5% national increase in rent for the coming year, largely due to over a million units set to come online nationwide.
The market is witnessing a rise in landlord concessions. To remain competitive against similar properties, owners are increasingly utilizing rent concessions to attract tenants. Common strategies include offering the first month free or providing a discount equivalent to one month’s rent, distributed across the year. These tactics reflect the intensifying competition within the rental market.
Reflecting on these changes, owners of multi-family properties have experienced both great prosperity and challenges. Property owners enjoyed significant growth in NOI and returns following the pandemic, with strong rent growth and low vacancy, along with robust development. Now, as the market evolves, tenants are emerging with greater influence, as evidenced by moderate rent increases and more rental choices. These developments signify a new chapter in the multi-family sector, balancing the interests of both owners and tenants and paving the way for future growth.
*Data courtesy Visintainer Group and CoStar Analytics, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development