Should I Invest In A DST?

Should I Invest in a DST?

Accredited real estate investors are moving in droves towards investing in DSTs (Delaware Statutory Trusts).

Why?

Several reasons, such as:

Lock in sales gains.

Passive income.

Tax benefits.

Elimination of personal liability.

Cash distribution potential.

Diversification.

Freedom from tenants, toilets, and trash.

Trade up to higher quality assets.

Transfer of wealth.

In addition, DSTs can be an optimal investment vehicle for obtaining access to commercial and multi-family real estate assets at a fraction of the price. Today someone can sell a rental home via a 1031 exchange and roll their equity into an Amazon distribution center, a class A apartment and/or a portfolio of Walgreens or Walmart stores owned inside a DST investment structure.

However, as is true with most investments, there is no “one-size” fits for all investors. While a DST may be ideal for one real estate investor, it may be less than ideal for another investor.

Why Are DSTs Growing in Popularity?

There are several reasons DSTs are growing in popularity, such as:

According to GlobeSt.com, there has been over $20 Billion raised in securitized 1031 co-ownership structured as Delaware Statutory Trusts since 2004. I believe it’s reasonable to say DSTs have earned such popularity due to the advantages for real estate investors.

Also contributing to the popularity of DSTs is Google Search where research by SEMrush reports over 11,800 searches a month around keyword variations for Delaware Statutory Trust. That’s a lot of interest! Just the keyword “Delaware Statutory Trust” alone garners 4,100 searches a month on search engines! My recent article published in Kiplinger, 5 Types of Investors Who Should NOT Do A Delaware Statutory Trust, ranks #6 in search across the country when searching the keyword Delaware Statutory Trust.

An excellent question: “Should I Invest In A Delaware Statutory Trust (DST)?”

Imagine you want to sell your rental property and invest in something that could provide you with dependable and consistent income while also doing away with the hassles of tenants, late night phone calls, repairs, or unexpected maintenance expenses like a new roof or HVAC.

Selling your real property and placing the proceeds in the bank may sound like a good plan. But still, you may be subject to income tax of up to 20%, net investment income tax of 3.8%, depreciation recapture of 25%, along with state income taxes, if applicable. In this scenario, you could give away a substantial portion of your gains to the IRS without a proper tax plan or strategy.

In contrast, you may defer tax gains if you invest your sale proceeds in a DST, which allows you to co-invest with other beneficiaries in one or more institutional-quality DST investment properties.

The formation of the Trust is done by DST sponsors (usually LLCs — limited-liability companies), who pool the money from smaller investors and invest it in a single, sizable real estate investment.

This structure offers several benefits, such as acquiring passive ownership in institutional-quality assets, minimum investments, and no renting/asset management responsibilities. It also helps diversify your investment portfolio and removes managerial hassles associated with property management since a DST sponsor is managing the property.

Moreover, in today’s volatile real estate market, a DST can provide a more reliable closing as DSTs can be more readily available.

Also consider that DSTs are offered only to “accredited investors,” which in general means an individual or entity with a net worth apart from one’s primary residence in excess of $1,000,000, or an income of $200,000 if single or $300,000 for a married couple.

In addition, certain exclusions apply to the IRS rules. Your DST firm associate will make sure you meet the IRS qualifications.

So, should you invest in a DST?

At Provident 1031 we are here to help you answer that question. Contact us today and arrange a consultation with me or a member of my team.