Do 1031 tax-deferred exchanges only apply to U.S. citizens?

No ! Foreign individuals (non-U.S. citizens and nonresident aliens) and foreign companies who own U.S. property for income or investment purposes can also take advantage of 1031 tax-deferred exchanges.

To qualify, both the exchanged and relinquished property must be located in the U.S., which includes all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

It's essential to engage tax specialists, including a qualified intermediary, for assistance in properly setting up these transactions, which can be extremely complex.

I will be glad to refer you to these specialists if there is a need.

NAR - CIPS info from volume 2/2019