Real estate crowdfunding picks 2023: What is a real estate crowdfunding platform? Real estate crowdfunding platform is a middle man between the borrowers and investors. Real estate crowdfunding platform business is a licensed business in EU and regulated by central banks. Therefore, real estate platforms must comply with the central bank requirements, such as: have integral process and procedures how they operate, approved risk scoring models and etc. Platforms themselves also make the borrowing, investing and management process convenient. They ensure that proper documentation is in place, pledges are properly secured, interest payment process is smooth and etc. Discover more information at real estate crowdfunding platforms.
Another aspect to look into from which countries investors are eligible to invest into real estate crowdfunding platform. Unless the platform is country specific, most of the platforms are allowing users from all over EU to invest. Some are accepting investors from countries outside EU, however this should be checked in every real estate crowdfunding platform. User experience: The first user experience, which could be noted – onboarding process. Most of the platforms are using third party suppliers to do onboarding process, but they have different integration levels and is some it could take a few days, before the user is approved and could start investing. Secondly project descriptions and ease of use, while navigating between the projects. This is not a deal breaking process, but certainly saves time, while selecting a project as the investment process itself is quite time consuming.
Reasons that individuals may be interested and exploring in these types of real estate opportunities include: Chance to diversify assets and investment portfolio holdings; Low startup capital required as compared to traditional real estate investments; Shared cost structure enables financiers to invest in larger property holdings than they’d typically have access to; Risks associated with ownership are split among multiple stakeholders; Access to new and/or exclusive opportunities; Ability to hold commercial real estate or real estate portfolio holdings in addition to residential properties; Offers exposure to real estate market without the need to personally provide upkeep and maintenance; No need to individually qualify for, obtain, and make regular payments on a mortgage; Does not require owners to personally guarantee loans with property and assets.
EquityMultiple focuses almost entirely on institutional commercial real estate, and it also offers equity, preferred equity, and senior debt investments. The company recently added tax-advantaged real estate investments (Opportunity Zone and 1031 exchange) and fund products to its lineup. Distribution schedules vary by deal but are usually monthly or quarterly. Since its launch in 2012, Fundrise has invested in more than $5 billion worth of real estate across the U.S. Today, it manages over $1.5 billion of equity on behalf of more than 170,000 individual investors. Fundrise offers five account levels: Starter, Basic, Core, Advanced, and Premium. There’s a minimum investment amount at each level and varying investment strategies and potential returns.
Real estate project LTV (loan to value ratio): LTV is a loan to value ration, which calculated as the proportion of loan size compared to total value of pledged assets. This is a typical ratio, which originated from banking, where it was used as a risk assessment KPI. In real estate crowdfunding projects LTV is varying between 50% and 80%. The lower the ration the higher value asset is pledge for the loan. Therefore lending for a real estate crowdfunding project with lower LTV brings lower risk. In case project will have to be liquidated there is a higher probability that investors will recover the money as asset value is covering loans at a higher extent. Also, if project developer is failing to return the loan, there is a higher probability, that developer refinances existing loans via other financing options by offering higher LTV for them. The lower LTV ratio, the better.
CrowdStreet: One of the more well-known real estate crowdfunding sites, CrowdStreet provides accredited investors with access to commercial real estate projects that look to deliver high returns on investment. CrowdStreet also provides some minimal due diligence for investors in the form of conducting background and reference checks on developers wishing to solicit their financial contributions. Nonetheless, whether you’re looking to invest in funds (which hold a variety of different real estate projects within them) or individual properties, many offerings require a minimum investment of $25,000. Likewise, any sums that you choose to invest may remain illiquid and have to sit untouched for a period of years.
Traditionally, equity crowdfunding was only open to accredited investors. Accredited investors include banks, pension plans, insurance companies as well as affluent, sophisticated investors. For an individual to qualify as an accredited investor, the person had to earn $200,000 or have a net worth that exceeded $1,000,000.1 One of the benefits to crowdfunding is that it doesn’t take a large amount of money for investors to get in—and in some cases—the minimum is $1,000 dollars to invest in a company. Also, if the company eventually goes public, meaning they issue new stock via an IPO or initial public offering, there could be an enormous potential for investment gains. See more info at https://www.crowdbulls.com/.