DST Case Studies

Explore our DST case studies to see how real clients turned land sales into tax-deferred income and lasting wealth through practical, real-world scenarios..

Real stories built it. Smart strategies preserve it.

  • A vintage rusty pickup truck parked on a gravel area outside a barn or shed, with a grassy field and a small building with a red roof in the background during sunset, viewed from inside a wooden structure.

    Phil & Dawn’s Hay Farm: How “Taking Less” Made Them More

    Phil and Dawn were ready to retire from their Nebraska hay farm. A $6M seller-finance offer looked good, but taxes would’ve taken $1.35M. Instead, with help from their local broker and a rep from Iron Ridge Advisors, they took a $5.7M cash deal into a DST. By deferring taxes, they kept more net equity, gained potential income, and secured their legacy.

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  • A yellow and white object on a multi-colored carpeted floor with horizontal and diagonal lines.

    Out of Water: How Gene Saved his Cotton Legacy with a DST

    When the wells in West Texas began to run dry, Gene knew his cotton farm’s best years were behind him. At 75, with his sons moving north, he faced selling his last big farm. A $10M sale could have cost him $4M in taxes, leaving little for retirement. Instead, by using a DST through a 1031 exchange, Gene deferred those taxes, reinvested all $10M, and set up potential mailbox money for life.

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  • A farm scene with red barn and silos against a clear sky, grass in the foreground.

    How Jim the Dairy Farmer Deferred Millions in Taxes Using a CRUT and DST

    Jim, a Washington dairy farmer, faced nearly $4M in taxes when selling 1,000 cows, $3M in equipment, and his $7M farm. By using a Charitable Remainder Unitrust (CRUT) for livestock and equipment, and a Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) for the farm, he deferred immediate taxes, created $650K/year potential income, and built a family foundation to guide charitable giving.

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  • An elderly man wearing a cowboy hat and a light-colored shirt smiling and looking at his phone while standing in a barn near a metal railing with cows in the background.

    How a Colorado Rancher More than Doubled His Cash Flow With a DST Portfolio

    Bill, a lifelong cattle rancher in eastern Colorado, sold his $20M ranch and bought a $6M Oklahoma lifestyle ranch. He reinvested $14M into a diversified DST portfolio—self-storage, multifamily, student housing, and oil & gas royalties. The move more than doubled his cash flow, sheltered 75% of his income from taxes, and secured a clean, tax-efficient inheritance for his three daughters.

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  • Aerial view of a snowy suburban neighborhood at sunset, showing houses with snow-covered roofs, driveways, and leafless trees, beside a body of water.

    Case Study: Trading Toilets and Tenants for Passive Income: Michelle’s DST Journey

    Michelle, 70, sold her Pinebrook townhome near Kimball Junction for $750,000. After paying off $300,000 in debt, she invested $450,000 into DSTs through a 1031 exchange. She swapped recourse for non-recourse debt, increased her income potential, and sheltered distributions by resetting depreciation. Best of all, she walked away from property management headaches.

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  • A rural farm scene with a green barn, a weathered gray barn, and a white vehicle parked in front of the barns, surrounded by open land and a blue sky.

    Case Study: Why a Debt-Free Farmer Chose DST Non-Recourse Debt

    At 64, Jackie Hansen leased his Oklahoma farm for just $18,000 a year, fully taxed with no depreciation left. After selling for $1.2M, he rolled into DSTs with 50% non-recourse leverage. His income jumped to $75,000 annually, mostly tax-sheltered, while eliminating tenants, maintenance, and stress. He gained peace of mind, higher returns, and a tax-efficient legacy.

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