Property that qualifies for exchange under Section 1031 must be "like-kind", which is defined in the Regulations as follows:
1. Property held for productive use in a trade or business, such as income property, or
2. Property held for investment.
Therefore, not only is rental or other income property qualified, so is unimproved property which has been held as an investment. Such unimproved property can be exchanged for improved property of any type, or vice versa. Also, one property may be exchanged for several, or vice versa. This means that almost any property that is not a personal residence or second home is eligible for exchange under Section 1031.
Held for investment, or held for income......... those are your two choices for like-kind property.