3. Taxpayers must complete the 1031 exchange in one completely simultaneous transaction.

By virtue of a favorable ruling to the taxpayer in the now famous case of Starker v. United States in 1979, taxpayers have the ability to complete an exchange on a delayed basis so long as they purchase replacement property within 180 days of selling their first relinquished property. Other structures, including reverse exchanges and improvement exchanges, afford taxpayers other types of flexibility during the exchange time frame.

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