How a 1031 Exchange Can Build Equity

The example below shows you a hypothetical analysis of the cumulative effect of how an investor’s equity could potentially grow over time if they performed 1031 Exchanges every 5 years into new properties, and if they didn’t utilize 1031 Exchange at all. In the right column of this example, the investor pays capital gains taxes on each property sale and then reinvests in new properties. In the middle column, they utilize 1031 Exchanges for every property sale and subsequent purchase. If the investor is smart and takes advantage of the tax code, they will perform 1031 Exchanges with each property sale and potentially grow their equity to just over $2.9M over 20 years.

If, however, they decide they want to pay capital gains taxes with each property sale, their equity only grows to $1.7M. The difference, $1.2M, is the positive effect of sequential 1031 Exchange. All the details for this analysis are shown below. This
is merely a hypothetical example, and may not be indicative of individual investors results, which may differ.

Sell Old and Buy New Investment Property Every 5 Years Perform 1031 Exchanges DO NOT Perform 1031 Exchanges Year 1 Cash Investment (proceeds from sale of home) $1,400,000 $1,002,500 Year 5 Hypothetical Proceeds After Sale $1,683,669 $1,144,689 Year 10 Hypothetical Proceeds After Sale $2,024,815 $1,307,046 Year 15 Hypothetical Proceeds After Sale $2,435,085 $1,492,430 Year 20 Hypothetical Proceeds After Sale $2,928,484 $1,704,108

Hypothetical Equity Build Over 20 Years With and Without 1031 Exchanges

Assumptions- All Hypothetical:
Start with equity from investor’s rental house sale
50% loan-to-value on each purchase
Appreciation Rate 3%
Costs of Sale 5%
Tax Rate 30%
Reinvest all proceeds from property sales
Buy twice as much property as Proceeds After Each Sale