| Published
March 20, 2007 |
Volume
15, Number 3
|
LandAmerica:
A Reliable Resource
for 1031 Tax-Deferred Exchanges

|
| LandAmerica’s
Hacienda staff provides their expertise to a host of
transactions
in both real estate and other assets. |
By Barbara Lewis
NETWORK Editor
Throughout Northern California, investors, real estate agents, law
firms and CPAs depend upon LandAmerica to facilitate their 1031
investment and business goals. Serving them is LandAmerica’s Hacienda
Park office, led by Vice President and Branch Manager Michelle Rojas,
Esq.
“The potential for substantial tax savings exists with every investment
property transaction because Section 1031 of the IRS code allows for
100% deferral of capital gain regardless of the size of the
investment,” Ms. Rojas says. “In order to ensure proper
documentation and absolute security of funds, the selection of a
Qualified Intermediary (QI) like LandAmerica is crucial.”
Individuals and commercial entities represent many reasons for
exchanging property including consolidation, change of property type or
location, financial portfolio diversification and life transitions.
They may wish to convert from maintenance-intensive to
professionally-managed property or to improve their investment
performance.
Though commercial and residential real estate properties are the most
commonly used in 1031 exchanges, many other assets like business
vehicles, aircraft, home offices and factory equipment are eligible as
well. Even livestock and FCC (Federal Commerce Commission)
licenses qualify.
How does a 1031 Exchange work? Here’s how. First, the seller
signs the contract to sell an existing investment property or business.
Then, after escrow is opened but before the relinquished property is
transferred, a Qualified Intermediary is contacted who executes the
1031 Exchange Agreement. At closing, the net sale proceeds
are
delivered to the QI, who assumes control of them. Then, within 45 days,
the property owner uses forms provided by LandAmerica (or another QI)
to notify the QI of the identified replacement property. The final
step, closing of escrow on the replacement property, takes place within
180 days of the transfer or the federal tax return due date, whichever
is sooner.
“We are technologically advanced and can deliver services very
quickly,” Rojas continues. “For example, we may receive an
urgent
call early in the morning saying that someone had neglected to set up a
1031 exchange that was intended as part of a transaction.
Assuming the transaction hasn’t been closed, we can produce
documentation to initiate an exchange within a few hours. The
ability to receive that kind of speedy service is a real benefit to our
clients.
“Though the process is straightforward, we always advise individuals,
professionals and businesses to call us to discuss their specific
situations and needs. Even though we are part of a large
title
company, we are somewhat boutique in our approach and pride ourselves
in giving equal attention to each one of our clients.
“We know that there are many businesses within Hacienda that focus on
real estate, like residential and commercial real estate brokerage
firms, lending institutions, accountants, attorneys and escrow firms,”
Rojas concludes. “As a local resource, we serve that whole
host
of companies. They are always welcome to bring their clients to our
offices to learn about the process.”
LandAmerica Exchange Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, which has
more than $4 billion in assets and $1.4 billion in shareholder equity.
For information, contact Michelle Rojas at (925) 924-1634, extension
12, or visit www.landam.com.
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