Passive real estate income appeals to Fort Worth, Texas investors who want the tax advantages and cash flow of real estate ownership without the day to day responsibilities of managing tenants and maintenance. A triple net leased property, where the tenant covers property taxes, insurance, and maintenance in addition to base rent, is one common path to passive income through direct ownership, since the landlord's role is largely limited to collecting rent and monitoring lease compliance. Direct ownership of a triple net property remains fully eligible for a 1031 exchange, since it is a direct interest in real property held for investment purposes.
A Delaware Statutory Trust, often referred to as a DST, offers an even more passive path to real estate income. In a DST, a professional sponsor manages a portfolio of properties, and investors hold a beneficial interest in the trust rather than direct title to the underlying real estate. The IRS confirmed in Revenue Ruling 2004 86 that a beneficial interest in a properly structured DST is treated as a direct interest in real estate for purposes of Section 1031, which means an investor can exchange out of actively managed property and into a DST interest to defer capital gains tax while eliminating landlord responsibilities. DST structures are subject to a set of restrictions sometimes called the seven deadly sins, which limit the trust's ability to raise new capital, renegotiate leases, or reinvest sale proceeds once the offering closes, and investors in Fort Worth considering this path should understand these restrictions before committing funds.
Because DST interests are securities, any specific DST offering discussed with an investor involves a securities transaction, and we do not sell securities directly. We provide introductions to licensed providers who can offer specific DST opportunities and handle the securities side of a transaction, while our role is limited to helping investors understand how passive structures fit into a broader 1031 exchange strategy for their portfolio near Fort Worth and across the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex.