andrew henderson menu

Andrew Henderson

Founder of Nomad Capitalist and the world’s most sought-after expert on global citizenship.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

What we’re all about

MEET OUR TEAM

Meet our 60+ global team

CONTACT US

We’re here to serve you

FAQS

Your questions answered

TESTIMONIALS

Read our testimonials

NEWSLETTER

Get free email updates

NC-image-menu

ACTION PLAN

Our flagship service for entrepreneurs and investors

ACTION PLAN ELITE

Create your Action Plan directly with the Mr. Henderson himself

CITIZENSHIP BY DESCENT

Claim a second passport based on familial connections

ALL SERVICES

Click here to see all our products and services

PASSPORT INDEX

Discover the world’s best passports to have in an ever-changing world

CITIZENSHIP MAP

Explore the citizenship options using our interactive citizenship map

TAX MAP

Explore the tax details for countries using our interactive tax map

ALL RESEARCH

Click here to see all of our research and interactive tools

THE WORLD’S #1 OFFSHORE EVENT

Learn from our R&D playbook and meet like-minded people at our annual event.

NOMAD CAPITALIST THE BOOK

Andrew Henderson wrote the #1 best-selling book that redefines life as a diversified,
global citizen in the 21st century… and how you can join the movement.

Investing • Real Estate

Does foreign real estate qualify for a 1031 exchange?

Fallback Image

Dateline: Los Angeles, United States

For years, real estate agents here the United States have touted the benefits of using tax-friendly 1031 exchanges. Few places have seen more frantic investors than right here in real estate-happy Southern California.

Indeed, if you own rental property that is declining in value in the high-tax United States and want to sell it only to buy more bad US real estate, a 1031 exchange can be helpful.

While such tax tricks are useful, they aren’t necessary if you embrace the higher probability investment that is foreign real estate.

Not only can foreign real estate be the impetus to obtain a second residency and passport in another country, it is typically a superior investment to your domestic options.

Whether you want a high-yield investment or just property to hold as a store of value, I believe overseas real estate can be a much better addition to your global portfolio.

Not to mention the fact that foreign real estate is an easy way to avoid capital controls, and property held in your own name as a US person is non-reportable (income from such property, of course, is).

However, many people have asked, “can I use a 1031 exchange for foreign real estate holdings?”

First, let’s look at what a 1031 exchange is…

A 1031 like-kind exchange is a part of the U.S. tax code that allows for investment property, real estate or otherwise, to be exchanged for similar investment property. You can exchange a piece of factory equipment for another piece of factory equipment… or you can exchange a commercial building for a residential apartment building.

That means investment real estate for investment real estate.

The great thing about a 1031 exchange is the massive tax savings. Many don’t realize this can apply to foreign real estate transactions as well as US-based ones.

The rules are that you can transfer a like-kind property — foreign to foreign or US to US. For example, you can transfer a piece of land in Ecuador for an apartment building in Singapore, but you can’t transfer a house in Ohio for a duplex in Dubai.

Another rule that applies in a 1031 exchange: No touching the proceeds of a sale. In other words, you can’t transfer them to your bank account. You will need a qualified intermediary to hold the proceeds, and then transfer them to the seller of the new property.

The foreign real estate 1031 exchange can sound like a great deal in theory. But is it?

Not always.

Let’s say you were selling a property in France, where capital gains taxes are notoriously high, and you were planning to exchange it for a property in Texas.

If you are paying 20% in taxes to the US, you may be better off just paying the French extortion fee and writing that off against your taxes. In the long run, you just saved money.

On the other hand, if the country you are selling your property in has no capital gains taxes (i.e. New Zealand, Belgium, Malaysia), then you are better off with a tax-deferred 1031 exchange.

Why would you want to buy property out of the US?

For one, it’s a good idea to get off a sinking ship while you can, and get into one that’s rising with the tide.

It’s also important to diversify your holdings. All-in with one part of the world is a risky proposition.

Of course, you may also be looking for more freedom in another part of the world.

That may be the ultimate knock against US real estate.

Where are some good places to invest in real estate?

There are so many opportunities around the world when it comes to investing in real estate. Here are a few ideas:

Great places to use your 1031 exchange offshore

Nicaraugua. The property market in some of the coastal towns is fairly well-developed and very easy for renting places out to vacationing North Americans via a property manager. The risk of expropriation is also extremely low, and it’s still a bit of a contrarian move, making prices low due to the perceived danger in this country.

Lithuania. I’m not a huge fan of EU countries, but the rise of the Baltic states is intriguing, and Lithuania offers some of the best opportunities in European real estate. As Lithuania will be adopted into the EU in January 2015, real estate prices will likely rise 20-30% in the early stages, with even bigger potential growth in the coming years. Investing now will be a great appreciation play.

Cambodia. This up and coming centrally located Asian country has a big upside and a very small downside. When I visited the country, my interest was in its rural areas. Between the implementation of a strong title system and the development of irrigation, it won’t be long before property values begin to rise with the coming advancements.

The opportunities internationally are tremendous for trading in your US real estate and getting into growth rather than decline. Instead of focusing on leaving communist California for less-communist Texas, working the 1031 exchange system can offer you more upside promise into greener, freer pastures.

GET ACTIONABLE TIPS FOR REDUCING TAXES AND BUILDING FREEDOM OVERSEAS

Sign up for our Weekly Rundown packed with hand-picked insights on global citizenship, offshore tax planning, and new places to diversify.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

How to Invest in CBDCs?

How to Invest in CBDCs?

The evidence that Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) could soon replace physical cash, topple...

Reduce Your Taxes And Diversify Your Wealth

Nomad Capitalist has helped 1,500+ high-net-worth clients grow and protect their wealth safe from high taxes and greedy governments. Learn how our legal, holistic approach can help you.

What do you want to accomplish?

Let us know your goal and we will tell you how we can help you based on your details.

$

We handle your data according to our Privacy Policy. By entering your email address you grant us permission to send you the report and follow up emails later.