FIBI - San Fernando Valley

Join FiBI San Fernando Valley for a reality check on 1031 exchanges — going beyond the textbook criteria to look at how these transactions actually play out, including the exchanges that succeed and the ones that don't.

Panelists Elizabeth Harris of Gibraltar 1031 and James Bean of Best 1031 Online will share firsthand accounts of walking investors through the process, the pitfalls, and the strategic decisions that determine whether an exchange qualifies — or quietly unravels.

Panelists will cover:

Process & Strategy — How a 1031 exchange actually moves from sale to replacement purchase, and the strategic decisions investors need to make early to protect the exchange.
Types of Exchanges — Simultaneous, delayed, reverse, and improvement exchanges — which structure fits which investment scenario.
Exchange Requirements & Like-Kind Property — What truly qualifies as like-kind, common misconceptions that trip up investors, and how the rules are applied.
Timelines That Make or Break a Deal — The 45-day identification and 180-day closing windows, and real examples of exchanges that fail.
The Role of the Qualified Intermediary — Why this relationship is central to a compliant exchange, and what to look for when choosing one.
Swap 'Til You Drop: The Long-Game Tax Strategy — How investors use 1031 exchanges to defer capital gains, growing their portfolio tax-deferred over decades, and how passing real estate to heirs can trigger a step-up in basis.

Whether you're planning your first exchange, want to sharpen your strategy, or are thinking generationally about how to pass wealth to your heirs, this panel will give you a grounded, real-world view of what it actually takes to execute a successful 1031 exchange — and how to use it to your advantage.