A 1031 exchange can be risky if you’re new to real estate. While the timing requirements may seem easy enough to tackle, there are a lot of fine details to consider with 1031 exchanges.  Investors who typically do well with 1031 exchanges are already involved in the real estate industry and can identify new investments within a short timeframe. You can also hire someone to help you find investment properties that would qualify under the 1031 exchange rules, but doing so can cut into your profits.