Starker Services

What Starker Services does

Starker Services, Inc. is the nation's oldest, largest, and most experienced independent Qualified Intermediary firm, specializing in IRC Section 1031 tax-deferred exchanges. Founded in 1987 immediately following the landmark Starker v. U.S. tax court decision that established the delayed-exchange precedent, the firm holds exchange proceeds in segregated, FDIC-insured savings accounts at Bridge Bank, requires two corporate officer signatures for any fund transfer, and maintains a $1,000,000 fidelity bond for client protection. It supports a full menu of exchange structures — Simultaneous, Delayed, Improvement/Construction, Reverse, Multi-Property/Multi-Party — plus specialized Tenant-in-Common and Partnership LLC exchange services, complemented by a 45/180-day calculator and an extensive educational resource library.

The business operates a high-touch, relationship-based go-to-market model: two exchange counselors are assigned per transaction, and customer acquisition flows primarily through professional referral networks spanning real estate agents/brokers, CPAs and tax professionals, attorneys, and escrow officers, supplemented by direct phone (800-332-1031) and website intake. The firm runs a national footprint of 30+ regional office touchpoints across 35+ states, headquartered in Los Gatos, California. Officers hold board seats at the Federation of Exchange Accommodators, and the firm has contributed written opinions that helped shape subsequent IRS guidance including Rev. Proc. 2000-37, 2002-22, and 2008-16.

The revenue model is transaction-fee based, with non-disclosed, quote-based pricing scaled to exchange complexity. The firm has completed over 250,000 exchanges cumulatively and processes thousands of transactions per year. It is privately held with no parent company, no institutional investors, and no disclosed headcount or financial figures. Starker Services has no AI/ML capabilities evidenced; the technology stack centers on custody infrastructure, document preparation, and human-counselor orchestration rather than automation.

Name

Starker Services

Legal name

Starker Services, Inc.

Website

https://starker.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Starker Services is the oldest and largest independent Qualified Intermediary firm in the United States, facilitating IRC Section 1031 tax-deferred real estate exchanges through a national network of offices for individual investors and their professional advisors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Qualified Intermediary / Tax-Deferred Exchange Services

NAICS

Title Abstract and Settlement Offices (541191)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

1031 Exchange Intermediary Services (BPAJAOAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Closing Coordination & Transaction Management (Broker/Agent Support) (BPAJAOAH)

Keywords

• 1031 exchange services
• Qualified intermediary
• Tax deferred exchanges
• Real estate exchange
• Exchange accommodation

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Gatos

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices31 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Qualified Intermediary Services Fees: Fees charged for facilitating 1031 tax-deferred exchanges as a Qualified Intermediary. The company prepares exchange documentation and holds sale proceeds during the exchange period between the sale of the relinquished property and acquisition of the replacement property.
2. Exchange Accommodation Services: Services include holding exchange funds, preparing exchange documentation, coordinating with escrow officers and attorneys, and ensuring compliance with IRS 45-day and 180-day timelines.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Starker Services operates as a Qualified Intermediary (QI) firm that facilitates IRC Section 1031 tax-deferred exchanges for real estate investors. The company holds exchange proceeds in segregated FDIC-insured accounts during the 45-day identification and 180-day completion periods, prepares all required exchange documentation, and provides consultation on exchange strategies including simultaneous, delayed, reverse, improvement/construction, and multi-property exchanges.

Product overview

Starker Services is a specialized financial services company operating as a Qualified Intermediary (QI) for IRC Section 1031 tax-deferred exchanges. The company offers a unified service platform centered on facilitating tax-deferred property exchanges, supported by six core service modules: Qualified Intermediary Services, 1031 Exchange Consultation, Replacement Property Identification, 1031 Exchange Documentation, Tax Deferral Strategies, and Education and Training Resources. Additionally, the company provides specialized exchange types including Simultaneous, Delayed, Improvement/Construction, Reverse, and Multi-Property/Multi-Party Exchanges. Supporting tools include a 45/180 Day Calculator. The company serves real estate investors, tax professionals, attorneys, escrow officers, and real estate agents. Founded in 1987 following the landmark Starker tax court decision, it is positioned as the nation's oldest and largest independently-owned Qualified Intermediary, having facilitated over 250,000 successful exchanges.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Qualified Intermediary Services Trusted intermediary services that manage and oversee 1031 exchange transactions, including holding exchange funds in segregated accounts and facilitating property transfers on behalf of real estate investors.
• 1031 Exchange Consultation

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 250,000 successful 1031 exchanges completed
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Bridge BankcoreOthersBridge Bank serves as the primary banking institution for holding client exchange funds. The bank meets stringent requirements including FDIC-insured accounts, individual account numbers for each exchange, and requires notarized signatures and two corporate officer signatures for fund transfers. Senior Vice President Jeff Whalen provides quotes confirming the security protocols.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IPX1031: One of the largest Qualified Intermediary firms in the U.S., offering delayed, reverse, and improvement 1031 exchanges. Direct competitor to Starker with national coverage and similar professional-referral GTM.
• First American Exchange Company: Qualified Intermediary subsidiary of First American Financial Corporation, offering 1031 exchange services integrated with the parent title and escrow business. Direct peer with broader balance-sheet backing.
• Equity Trust Company: National Qualified Intermediary and custodian offering 1031 exchange services, self-directed IRAs, and alternative-asset custody. Direct competitor to Starker in the QI segment with similar multi-channel professional referral model.
• Asset Preservation, Inc. Specialized Qualified Intermediary providing 1031 exchange accommodation services nationwide. Comparable to Starker in core offering, fee model, and reliance on CPA/attorney/agent referrals.
• Chicago Deferred Exchange Corp. Mid-size independent Qualified Intermediary focused on delayed and reverse 1031 exchanges, serving investors and advisors in the Midwest and nationwide. Comparable service model and professional-referral GTM to Starker.
• Accommodator Services Co. Independent Qualified Intermediary firm facilitating 1031 exchanges including reverse and improvement structures. Comparable scale and service breadth to Starker, operating primarily through professional referral networks.

Broad incumbents

• WFG National Title Insurance Company: Large national title insurance and escrow provider that supports 1031 exchange closings and offers QI-adjacent services. Comparable through the closing/escrow workflow Starker's clients use, though not a pure-play QI.
• Old Republic National Title Insurance Company: Major title insurer with national escrow capacity that interfaces with Qualified Intermediaries on exchange closings. Overlapping ecosystem player rather than a pure QI competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/starker1031

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Starker Services