Methods and investment instruments for performing tax-deferred real estate exchanges

Abstract

Methods and investment instruments for investing in real estate are described wherein a portfolio of investment real estate is divided into a plurality of tenant-in-common deeds of predetermined denominations, and which are subject to a master agreement and master lease to form “deedshares.” Holders of the deedshares receive a guaranteed income stream from the master lease and yearly depreciation, without having to maintain or manage the real estate. The holders of deedshares are subject, under the master agreement, to a mechanism that enables the master tenant to purchase, or arrange for the purchase of the deedshares at fair market value (or some other calculable value) at the end of a specified term. Because the deedshares qualify as interests in investment real estate, they are eligible for tax-deferred treatment under §1031 of the Internal Revenue Code.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of creating a real estate investment instrument adapted for performing tax-deferred exchanges comprising: 
 aggregating real property to form a real estate portfolio;    encumbering the property in the real estate portfolio with a master agreement; and    creating a plurality of deedshares by dividing title in the real estate portfolio into a plurality of tenant-in-common deeds of at least one predetermined denomination, each of the plurality of deedshares subject to a provision for reaggregating the plurality of tenant-in-common deeds after a specified interval.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein encumbering the property in the real estate portfolio with a master agreement further comprises encumbering the real property with a master lease to a master tenant who pays rent to holders of the deedshares.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein creating the plurality of deedshares further comprises structuring the provision to include a put provision that allows holders of the deedshares to force the master tenant to purchase the deedshares at a calculable value after the specified interval and a call provision that allows the master tenant to force holders of the deedshares to sell their deedshares to the master tenant at a calculable value after the specified interval.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein encumbering the real property in the real estate portfolio with a master agreement further comprises including a sublease provision in the master lease, enabling the master tenant to sublease the real estate.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein encumbering the real property in the real estate portfolio with a master agreement further comprises including a maintenance provision in the master lease, requiring the master tenant to maintain the real estate.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein encumbering the real property in the real estate portfolio with a master agreement further comprises including an insurance provision in the master lease, requiring the master tenant to insure the real estate.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein encumbering the real property in the real estate portfolio with a master agreement further comprises including a tax provision in the master lease, requiring the master tenant to pay taxes on the real estate.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein encumbering the real property in the real estate portfolio with a master agreement further comprises including an extended term provision in the master lease, designating that the master lease extends beyond the specified interval.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein encumbering the real property in the real estate portfolio with a master agreement further comprises including a guaranteed rent provision in the master lease, designating that the master tenant pay a predetermined guaranteed income to holders of the deedshares.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein encumbering the real property in the real estate portfolio with a master agreement further comprises including a credit rating provision in the master lease, requiring that the master tenant have a specified minimum credit rating.  
     
     
         11 . A method of performing a tax-deferred exchange of investment real estate under §1031 of the Internal Revenue Code comprising: 
 transferring a first interest in investment real estate having a first value and being subject to a first debt from an exchanger to a third party;  
 using the third party to transfer title to the first interest in investment real estate to a buyer in exchange for money, proceeds of the transfer of the title to the first interest being held by the third party;  
 identifying deedshares having a second value equal to or greater than the first value and subject to a second debt equal to or greater than the first debt as a replacement property within a specified number of days of transferring title to the first interest in investment real estate, the deedshares comprising an undivided tenant-in-common interest in investment real estate that is subject to a master agreement including a provision reaggregating title to the investment real estate represented by the deedshares at a specified time;  
 closing the sale of the deedshares within a second specified number of days of transferring title to the first interest in investment real estate; and  
 transferring the deedshares and the second debt from the third party to the exchanger.  
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein identifying deedshares comprises identifying a combination of deedshares having different predetermined denominations that sum to the second value.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein identifying deedshares further comprises identifying deedshares subject to a master lease to a master tenant, and the master tenant pays rent to owners of the deedshares.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein identifying deedshares further comprises identifying deedshares subject to a provision for reaggregating title that comprises a put provision that allows the owners of the deedshares to force the master tenant to purchase the deedshares at a calculable value on or after the specified time, and a call provision that allows the master tenant to force the owners of the deedshares to sell their deedshares to the master tenant at a calculable value on or after the specified time.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein identifying deedshares further comprises identifying deedshares including a provision enabling the master tenant to sublease the real estate.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein identifying deedshares further comprises identifying deedshares including a provision requiring the master tenant to maintain the real estate.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein identifying deedshares further comprises identifying deedshares including a provision requiring the master tenant to insure the real estate.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein identifying deedshares further comprises identifying deedshares including a provision requiring the master tenant to pay taxes on the real estate.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein identifying deedshares further comprises identifying deedshares including a provision that the master lease extends beyond the specified interval.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein identifying deedshares further comprises identifying deedshares including a provision that requires the master tenant has a specified minimum credit rating.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein identifying deedshares further comprises identifying deedshares including a provision to appoint a real estate broker to sell the real estate after title to the real estate has been reaggregated at the specified time.