IPX1031 Insight Blog

How to Buy Your “Dream Home” with a 1031 Exchange

Ninety percent of people we recently surveyed thought owning a home is part of the American Dream. Interestingly enough, more than half believe they will never own their Dream Home – with the younger generations being most pessimistic. Great news is that with advance planning and utilizing a 1031 Exchange strategy, owning your dream home – or vacation home, retirement home, even a second home – can be reality for everyone from Baby Boomers to Gen Zs.

The important objective is planning ahead regardless of where you are at on your investment continuum. For those who own investment real estate and are thinking of a future dream home, strategic steps are below. For those who aspire to be part of the American Dream and own their dream home, start planning now. Begin investing in real estate – even starting small – and utilize 1031 tax deferred exchanges to continue to grow your portfolio. Then plan on following the same strategic plan outlined below:


In 2008, the IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2008-16. It provides a “blueprint” to make a dream/ vacation/ second home (hereinafter referred to as vacation home) eligible for a 1031 Exchange. In the Revenue Procedure, the Internal Revenue Service stated that if a taxpayer complies with the requirements of Revenue Procedure 2008-16, it will not challenge the validity of the 1031 Exchange.

To comply with Revenue Procedure 2008-16 the vacation home (being converted to Relinquished Property):

  1. Must have been owned by the taxpayer for at least two years prior to the 1031 Exchange;
  2. Was rented for at least 14 days (at fair market value) in each of the two years immediately prior to the exchange; and
  3. Was not used for personal purposes more than 14 days or 10 percent of the actual rental period (whichever is greater) during each of those two years. To simplify the confusing language of the third requirement; if you rent a vacation home for 300 days, your personal use could be up to 30 days..

Personal use includes use by the Exchanger’s friends and family that do not pay fair market rent but would not include use by a family member as their primary residence if the family member pays fair market rent.  The Revenue Procedure also applies to property being purchased in an exchange, in reverse. That is where the true gift from the IRS exists. Revenue Procedure 2008-16 provides a way to buy a future primary residence, second home or personal vacation property as an exit strategy from investment real estate.

Here is how it works. First, sell your investment property and acquire a future primary residence, second home or personal vacation property as the replacement property in a 1031 exchange. Second, rent the property for at least 14 days during each of the first two 12 month periods after the exchange. As stated above, it can be rented to a family member as long as it is their primary residence and they pay fair market rent. Third, make sure your personal use is no more than 14 days (or 10 percent of the actual rental period) in each of the two 12 month periods after the exchange. Finally, move into the property or otherwise use it for personal use!

Taxpayers and their advisors sought guidance from the IRS concerning how much personal use was permissible with regard to a vacation property which was owned for investment. After years of silence, the IRS spoke and gave taxpayers a huge gift which can be used to gain personal benefit from investment properties.

Who said the kinder, gentler IRS disappeared?

Proper planning and timing is critical to 1031 Exchange your dream home. Talk to your tax and legal advisors to determine how a 1031 Exchange dream home strategy will work for you. For any further 1031 Exchange questions and dream home questions, please reach out to us at IPX1031


IPX1031. The best choice for your 1031. 

IPX1031 is the largest and one of the oldest Qualified Intermediaries in the United States. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Fidelity National Financial (NYSE:FNF), a Fortune 300 company, IPX1031 provides industry leading security for your exchange funds as well as considerable expertise and experience in facilitating all types of 1031 Exchanges. Taxpayers’ funds are held in segregated accounts using the Exchanger’s taxpayer identification number. Our nationwide staff, which includes industry experts, veteran attorneys and accountants, are available to help you and your legal and tax advisors.

For more information read:
How to Buy Your “Dream Home” with a 1031 Exchange PDF
Revenue Procedure 2008-16
Do Vacation and Second Homes Qualify for 1031 Exchanges?
Strategically Buying Your Dream Vacation Home with a 1031 Exchange
How to Buy Your Dream Home with a 1031 Exchange
Capital Gains Estimator
What is a 1031 Exchange?
IPX1031 Knowledge Center 
How to Maximize 1031 Vacation and Rental Property During Pandemic Times

 

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