Most real estate investors know that a 1031 exchange defers capital gains taxes. Fewer realize that when working with the right Qualified Intermediary, those funds can earn meaningful interest that comes back to them at the close of the exchange. That interest is taxable as ordinary income in the year it's received, so it's worth factoring into your tax planning upfront. But once it's in your hands, it's yours to use however you see fit. For real estate investors, that opens