A 1031 exchange is a way to defer capital gains taxes by rolling the equity from the sale of one investment property into the purchase of another. Many clients seeking to increase their returns or reduce their management responsibilities opt for a 1031 exchange to achieve their investing goals. Instead of immediately paying capital gains on the sale of a property (the “down leg”), many investors prefer to defer that payment by purchasing a new property (the “up leg”) with the proceeds. This is commonly referred to as a 1031 exchange, in reference to the section of U.S. tax code that defines it. There are specific rules and timelines related to a 1031 exchange, and it is important to have an experienced and knowledgeable specialist handling the process.