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The Global Insight

What can you purchase with a 1031 exchange?

Author

Christopher Davis

Updated on March 17, 2026

A 1031 exchange allows you to sell one investment or business property and buy another without incurring capital gains taxes – as long as the exchange is completed according to IRS rules and the new property is of the same nature or character (like kind).

Can I use 1031 exchange to pay off mortgage?

Generally, no, you can not sell real property (“relinquished property”) and defer the payment of your depreciation recapture and capital gain income taxes by structuring a 1031 exchange by building on real property that you already own or by paying off the mortgage on the property.

How does a 1031 exchange work with rental properties?

The intermediary holds the funds after one property is sold in the 1031 exchange and uses that money to buy the new replacement property. When doing a 1031 exchange, the owner must identify the property he is exchanging and declare it before the sale.

Can you sell a primary home to purchase a 1031 exchange?

3. Investment Rule It is not permissible to sell a primary residence to purchase an investment property through the 1031 rule. Likewise, you cannot sell an investment property to purchase a primary home with this rule. 4. Debt & Equity in the 1031 Exchange

What does 1031 mean for like kind property?

In a typical IRS qualified §1031 like-kind property exchange, investors defer paying capital gains, depreciation recapture, and income taxes on commercial investment property when it’s sold. Like-kind does not mean identical property, but it certainly excludes (with a twist) exchanges for primary residences.

Do you have to pay taxes on 1031 exchange?

When using 1031 tax codes, you could continue to exchange properties for as long as you want. Ultimately, however, you would need to pay the taxes on these properties. When you decide to sell one of the like-kind properties, you would need to pay relevant taxes as well as all of the taxes that were tax-deferred throughout your exchanges.