N
The Daily Insight

What is a TIC investment?

Author

William Smith

Updated on March 31, 2026

A tenancy in common investment (better known as a TIC) is an investment by the taxpayer in real estate which is co-owned with other investors. Since the taxpayer holds deed to real estate as a tenant in common, the investment qualifies under the like-kind rules of §1031.

What does TIC mean in real estate?

Tenancy in Common
What Is Tenancy in Common – TIC? Tenancy in common is an arrangement where two or more people share ownership rights in a property or parcel of land. The property may be commercial or residential. When a tenant in common dies, the property passes to that tenant’s estate.

Is a tic a legal entity?

A TIC is not a taxable entity. Each co-owner is taxed on their own income. So if a party is seeking to purchase property for a like-kind transfer, they may enjoy 1031 treatment if purchasing a TIC ownership, but not a partnership or LLC interest.

Is a tic a good investment?

While TICs are new to Los Angeles, they have a 40 plus year track record already in San Francisco. Owning a TIC is perfectly safe, however, the two main drawbacks with this property type that should be carefully considered before buying: Weak Associations and Limited Financing Options.

Is TIC real?

Tenancies-in-common, also called tenants-in-common or TICs, have been a popular housing option in San Francisco and are recently on the rise in Los Angeles – but they can prove befuddling to the uninitiated.

Are TIC properties a good investment?

Is Tic a coop?

Just like a condo, you pay a monthly fee and can use the common areas. In a TIC, the rules and regulations of ownership are spelled out in a TIC agreement. The upside is that the purchase price for a TIC is almost always considerably less expensive than a comparable condo. A co-op (aka.

Can you rent out a tic?

If you buy a TIC 10–20% cheaper than a condo, and rent it out, you get the same rent as a condo would. So your monthly and annual ROI is by default 25% higher than a condo. You will not be able to raise your rents as much as a condo owner can, which will hurt your ROI in the long term.

Is Tic a good investment?

Owning a TIC is perfectly safe, however, the two main drawbacks with this property type that should be carefully considered before buying: Weak Associations and Limited Financing Options. These drawbacks are far outweighed by the benefits of owning vs renting.

What does TIC stand for?

TIC

AcronymDefinition
TICTongue-In-Cheek
TICTheatre in the Classroom (various organizations)
TICTourist Information Center
TICTenancy in Common (finance)