Improvement Exchanges

Build-to-suit and improvement exchange strategies that allow 1031 exchange investors to use exchange funds for property construction or renovation before taking title.

Improvement exchanges, also called build-to-suit or construction exchanges, allow Washington DC investors to use 1031 exchange proceeds to acquire and improve replacement property before taking title. Under this strategy, an exchange accommodation titleholder holds the replacement property while improvements are completed using exchange funds. This is ideal for investors who want to construct a new single tenant NNN retail building, renovate a multifamily property, or develop an industrial facility. The improvements must be completed and the investor must take title within the 180-day exchange period. We coordinate with qualified intermediaries, contractors, architects, and exchange accommodation titleholders to ensure every dollar of improvement is captured in the exchange and the project stays on schedule. Improvement exchanges are complex but can significantly increase the value and income potential of your replacement property.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does an improvement exchange differ from a standard 1031 exchange?

In a standard 1031 exchange, you sell a relinquished property and purchase an existing replacement property. In an improvement exchange, exchange funds are used to both acquire and improve the replacement property before you take title. An exchange accommodation titleholder holds the property during construction, and improvements must be completed within the 180-day exchange period. This allows Washington DC investors to build a new single tenant NNN retail location, renovate a multifamily building, or customize an industrial property using tax-deferred dollars.

What types of improvements qualify in a build-to-suit exchange?

Qualifying improvements include new construction, major renovations, tenant build-outs, site work, and capital improvements that add value to the replacement property. The improvements must be made while the exchange accommodation titleholder holds title, and they must be completed within the 180-day window. We help Washington DC investors identify improvement projects that maximize exchange value, whether constructing a new single tenant NNN retail building for a credit tenant or performing a gut renovation on a multifamily property.

What are the risks of an improvement exchange?

The biggest risk is construction delays. If improvements are not substantially completed within the 180-day exchange period, the unfinished improvement value may not count toward your exchange, potentially creating taxable boot. Weather, permitting delays, material shortages, and contractor issues can all impact timelines. We coordinate with experienced contractors and exchange accommodation titleholders to build realistic schedules with built-in contingencies for Washington DC investors pursuing improvement exchanges.