Leah Badach vs 1031 Pros: NYC Qualified Intermediary Comparison
1031 Pros and Leah Badach are both New York-based 1031 practices with CES credentials. Investors compare them when shortlisting a NY 1031 specialist. Here's how they actually differ.
Choose 1031 Pros for standard forward exchanges where both the relinquished and replacement properties are in New York and the deal has no structural complexity. Choose Leah Badach for NY exchanges with structural complexity (reverse, improvement, multi-property), out-of-state replacement properties, NYC coop/condo specialty needs, or where single-thread continuity through Form 8824 filing matters.
On this page
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Leah Badach, CES | 1031 Pros |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Brooklyn, NY (serves all 50 states) | New York-focused |
| CES on lead | Yes — Leah personally | Yes |
| Exchange count | Ask Leah | 20,000+ (firm-wide) |
| NYC coop/condo specialty | Deep specialty | Coverage but not specialty positioning |
| Out-of-state replacement coordination | National attorney network | Less established outside NY |
| Single named contact | Yes — Leah personally Day 0 to Day 180 | Typically yes within team |
| Response time, ID window | Leah is the named contact from intake to filing; confirm response expectations when you engage | Not published; ask the firm |
| Form 8824 support | Populated worksheet sent to your CPA | Standard 1099 + record |
| Best for | NY exchanges with complexity or out-of-state replacement | Standard NY-to-NY forward exchanges |
Where 1031 Pros wins
- Volume. 20,000+ exchange firm count means deep operational pattern recognition for standard NY forward exchanges.
- NY attorney network. Long relationships with NY real estate attorneys and title companies.
- Audit-free track record. Publicized track record of clean IRS history.
- Pricing for standard forwards. Slightly more competitive on routine NY-to-NY deals.
Where Leah Badach wins
- NYC coop and condo specialty. Coop board approval coordination, sponsor unit conversions, NYC transfer tax structures — differentiated specialty positioning.
- Out-of-state replacement coordination. National attorney network when your NY relinquished property is being exchanged into Florida, Texas, or elsewhere.
- Reverse and improvement specialty. Lead specialist runs personally; not handed to a sub-team.
- Form 8824 worksheet to your CPA. Populated worksheet sent directly to your tax preparer, not reconstructed at filing time.
- Personal availability after hours during identification. Reachable when properties fall through on the eve of Day 45.
When to choose 1031 Pros
- Standard NY-to-NY forward exchange, no structural complexity
- Single property in, single property out, generous identification timeline
- Price-sensitive on a routine exchange
- NY-only attorney network is sufficient
When to choose Leah Badach
- NYC coop or condo exchange (specialty positioning)
- NY relinquished property + out-of-state replacement (or vice versa)
- Reverse, improvement, or multi-property exchange
- Tight timeline; properties likely to need identification amendment
- You want Form 8824 support sent directly to your CPA
- You want the same person on the call every time, including after business hours during Day 1-45
The honest summary
1031 Pros is a credible operator on standard NY forward exchanges. Leah adds structural specialty (NYC coop/condo), nationwide replacement coordination, and personal-availability differentiation that matters when the exchange isn't textbook. For routine NY-to-NY deals, the two firms are close substitutes. For anything more complex, the differences become material.