Step 1 · Sell & Fund the QI
The DST path starts like any 1031: you sell your relinquished property and the QI receives the proceeds. The difference is what comes next — instead of buying another building, you'll invest in a Delaware Statutory Trust.
Step 2 · What Is a DST?
A Delaware Statutory Trust is a passive co-ownership structure recognized by the IRS as 1031-eligible replacement property. Sponsors buy institutional real estate (apartments, medical, industrial) and divide ownership into beneficial interests.
Step 3 · Co-Ownership With Other Investors
The DST holds legal title to the property. You and other investors hold beneficial interests — treated as direct real-estate ownership for 1031 purposes — proportional to your investment.
Step 4 · Quarterly Distributions
The DST sponsor manages the property and distributes net rental income to investors — usually quarterly, often around 5–6% annualized. You report it as rental income on your tax return.
Step 5 · Exit on Your Terms
Sponsors typically hold DSTs for 5–10 years before selling. When the DST sells, you receive your pro-rata share of proceeds and can either pay capital gains tax — or chain another 1031 into a fresh investment.