ABOUT
One focus, every day: helping 1031 exchange investors move into real estate that gives them their time back.
MY STORY
I'm James Lyon — most people know me as TheDSTGuy. Early in my career working with real estate investors, I kept seeing the same pattern: successful owners who had built real wealth through property, but who were exhausted by the job that came with it. Frozen pipes at midnight. Tenants who stopped paying and wouldn't leave. The sense that they owned their real estate, but their real estate also owned a piece of them.
That's the problem I decided to specialize in solving. I don't sell insurance, manage general portfolios, or dabble in DSTs on the side as one product among many. I spend every day evaluating sponsors, comparing offerings, and helping 1031 exchange investors move into professionally managed real estate — the kind that seeks to pay you without requiring you to run it.
Every investor's exchange is different — different timelines, different risk tolerance, different reasons for wanting out of active management. My job is to bring the sponsor research and structural knowledge, so you can make that decision with a clear picture instead of a sales pitch.
Registered Representative, Emerson Equity LLC · Member, ADISA

HOW I WORK
01
A conversation, not a pitch
We start with your timeline, your exchange goals, and what you actually want out of your next property.
02
Sponsor and offering review
I bring current DST offerings that fit your criteria, with sponsor track record and structure explained plainly.
03
Deadline-aware planning
We work backward from your 45-day and 180-day deadlines so nothing is rushed at the last minute.
04
Ongoing support
The relationship doesn't end at closing — I'm here for questions for as long as you hold the investment.
Start with the free guide, or reach out directly — whichever you're more comfortable with.