Check a DST Offering Before You Commit
Use a clear framework to separate real estate quality from sponsor terms, fees, and exit rules.
Start With the Underlying Property
Review the real estate before the paperwork: location, tenant quality, lease length, and physical condition. A strong offering starts with strong real estate. If property details are thin or vague, treat that as a warning sign before you look at any financial terms.
Read Sponsor Materials and Debt Terms
Request the full sponsor package, including the offering memorandum. Check the debt structure: loan amount, interest rate type, maturity date, and recourse terms. High leverage or a loan maturing soon can raise risk. Ask your CPA and attorney to review these documents before you commit funds.
Check Fees, Distributions, and Exit Terms
Ask for a written breakdown of all fees and how distributions are calculated, including whether they come from operations or reserves. Review concentration, meaning how much of the offering sits in one property or tenant. Ask about exit limits and how long your money may stay locked in.
Sources
Educational only, not tax advice. Your CPA must confirm tax treatment, timing, participation, basis, and filing before you act.
Common questions
Clear answers first. If one question changes the deal, bring it into the review before you move money.
Q1What should I check first in a DST offering?+
Start with the real estate itself: location, tenants, lease terms, and condition. Then review sponsor materials, debt structure, fees, and distribution sources in writing. A strong property does not ensure strong offering terms, so review both separately.
Q2How do I check the debt on a DST property?+
Ask for the loan amount, interest rate type, maturity date, and whether the loan is recourse. High leverage or a loan maturing soon adds risk. Your CPA or attorney can help you read these terms before you commit funds.
Q3Can you help me pick a DST offering?+
We do not recommend or rank DST offerings. We help with the real estate side of your exchange, including timing and property comparisons. Your CPA, attorney, and securities professional review specific offerings and confirm whether they fit your goals.
Review Your Property Options First
Book a Real Estate Review before you evaluate any offering. We will walk through your property, timeline, and questions to bring to your CPA and securities professional.
Review Your Property Options First
Book a Real Estate Review before you evaluate any offering. We will walk through your property, timeline, and questions to bring to your CPA and securities professional.
Book a Real Estate ReviewNext steps
Keep moving forward
Know the DST Exchange Boundary
A DST 1031 exchange sits between real estate and securities law. See how the boundary works, who confirms eligibility, and what to ask before you act.
View next stepJudge the Real Estate Behind a DST
Learn how to evaluate the real estate behind a DST property: location, tenants, leases, condition, and debt, kept separate from offering terms.
View next stepExchange Your Investment Property Without Losing Your Timeline
Plan a 1031 exchange in Seattle, Bellevue, or Kirkland. We handle sale timing, replacement property search, and closing while your CPA confirms tax treatment.
View next step