Case Study: How a Retired Engineer Executed a Tax-Efficient, Passive 1031 Exchange

Investor Profile

After decades of owning a piece of land, a retired engineer found himself at a crossroads. His property, originally purchased for $500,000, had appreciated significantly and was now listed for $2.7 million. While he was ready to sell, he faced a dilemma—how to avoid a substantial tax bill without taking on the responsibilities of property management. At his age, the idea of overseeing another real estate investment was unappealing, and his family had no interest in managing assets either.

Seeking a tax-efficient and fully passive solution, he turned to FundRiseInvestment to explore his options. After months of personalized guidance, he discovered that a 1031 exchange into a diversified portfolio of Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs) would allow him to defer capital gains taxes, generate potential passive income, and strategically diversify his wealth. This case study highlights how he successfully transitioned his real estate holdings while securing a hands-free investment strategy tailored to his retirement goals.

The Challenge: Avoiding Taxes While Transitioning to Passive Real Estate

After decades of land ownership, a retired engineer was preparing to sell a property he had originally purchased for $500,000—now listed at $2.7 million. While eager to capitalize on the property’s appreciation, he wanted to defer capital gains taxes but had no interest in managing real estate in his retirement. His family also preferred a fully passive approach.

The FundRiseInvestment Solution: Education & Customization

Through multiple consultations, Steve and Tom from FundRiseInvestment provided in-depth education on different 1031 exchange strategies, explored the risks and potential benefits, helping the investor assess his best options. After careful evaluation, he decided to exchange into a portfolio of DSTs, allowing him to preserve his wealth, generate passive income, and diversify his holdings.

Why He Chose DSTs

Diversification:

• He spread his $2.7M investment across 20+ properties, including multifamily, essential retail, and industrial assets.
• His portfolio covered 12+ different markets across the United States.
• He allocated his investment across four separate sponsor groups to reduce reliance on any single operator.

Built-In Leverage for Enhanced Potential Returns:

• He didn’t have to apply for or personally guarantee any loans. The debt was built into the DST.
• By utilizing built-in debt, he used his $2.7m of capital to purchase $5.2M of property, increasing his upside potential.
• The leverage allowed him to purchase more property and increase his depreciation benefits, reducing his taxable income and improving his tax-equivalent yield.

Why He Chose FundRiseInvestment

Education & Support
FundRiseInvestment provided months of tailored education where they walked through the risks and potential benefits of various investment options, allowing him to fully understand the 1031 market, build investment criteria, and make an informed decision that best fit the goals, objectives, and risk tolerance of him and his family.

Investment Management
The investor could track all his DST investments in one place via FundRiseInvestment’s investor dashboard. FundRiseInvestment  provides a single portal for the investor to receive information on sponsor communication, property performance, and tracking of distributions, avoiding the hassle of managing multiple portals across various sponsors.

Trust & Transparency
FundRiseInvestment  due diligence process is thorough and highly selective. This saved the investor time and effort of reviewing all the potential options in the industry. It provided a high level of transparency, building trust for Tom and Steve’s reasoning for recommending or discouraging investment in each opportunity.

The Outcome: A Tax-Efficient, Passive Investment Portfolio

By leveraging  FundRiseInvestment 1031 exchange expertise, the investor successfully deferred capital gains taxes, while transitioning into a diversified, income-generating portfolio without the burden of property management. Through strategic use of built-in leverage, he maximized depreciation benefits, reducing his taxable income and enhancing his potential for overall returns. Most importantly, he achieved a fully passive investment strategy that aligned with his and his family’s long-term financial goals.

This case highlights how FundRiseInvestment  education, platform, and investment opportunities empower investors to make tax-efficient, wealth-building decisions—all without the complexities of direct property ownership. Considering a 1031 exchange? FundRiseInvestment can help you optimize your investment strategy today.