Do you have to pay capital gains tax on stocks if you sell and reinvest in real estate?

[Carl L DeCesare]

I began putting aside a percentage of my modest paycheck and doing side work to come up with additional money to invest in the stock market starting in 2008.  From 2008- early 2014 I made very nice gains but they haven't been doing much lately.  Now, I would like to use this money I've built up to invest in a rental property or two.  If I sell my stocks, is there a way to avoid paying capital gains tax?  I've recently learned that a 1031 exchange is to defer capital gains tax when reinvesting the profits from one property to the next.  Can this apply to stock profits as well.

Thanks!

-Carl DeCesare (Raleigh, NC)