Welcome! Thank you for your interest in real estate crowdfunding. It is one of the most cutting-edge methods of investing in real estate.
It opens up multiple avenues for identifying potentially profitable investment opportunities and lets qualified investors fund the projects and invest in real estate assets. It is revolutionizing the real estate industry.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Real estate crowdfunding connects investors to property assets through social media and the Internet.
- Because an investor can purchase a property and become a shareholder, real estate crowdfunding is akin to equity investing.
- Crowdfunding allows businesses to obtain financing that they otherwise would not be able to obtain.
- Investors can become shareholders in a company or a real estate property through crowdfunding.
What Is Real Estate Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is a mechanism for businesses to raise funds and for investors to gain access to such enterprises. It reaches out to potential investors using the Internet and social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Crowdfunding works on the principle that if many individuals are prepared to invest a small amount, big sums of money can be raised fast.
Crowdfunding allows businesses to obtain financing that they otherwise would not be able to obtain. Investors can become shareholders in a company or a real estate property through crowdfunding.
How Does Crowdfunding Work In Real Estate?
Structure your Crowdfunding Process
Before calling around to find an internet crowdfunding site, make sure you have all of your ducks in a row with the advice of an attorney.
There are a few things to think about first. Will investors be reimbursed a portion of their investment? What is the payback schedule? Will they instead receive a portion of the investment? To avoid conflicts later, all of these considerations must be considered and contractually documented.
Remember that if you have more than 100 investors, your crowdfunding project will become a REIT. Because of all the federal rules and regulations, this adds another layer of complication. Even if your project is as straightforward as putting five people together to buy a quadplex, you’ll want to make sure it’s protected by more than just a handshake. This is especially true if each investor receives a share of the company’s stock. Instead of receiving a return of interest, they will receive a piece of ownership in the enterprise. It’s critical to define who will be a full partner in the endeavour (with voting rights and control over the company) and who will be a limited partner (that is, making financial contributions but having no say in the project).
Create or find a real estate crowdfunding platform.
It’s as simple as looking through your existing network and making a few phone calls or sending a few emails to start a crowdfunding platform. If you’re more tech-savvy, you might create a website and send out an email blast to possible investors pointing them to a payment page. Some platforms may also provide email connectors, which can help you spread the word about your project more quickly and easily. Traditional consumer-facing crowdfunding platforms like Fundrise and RealtyMogul are also worth investigating.
Keep in mind that most platforms demand authorized investors. These are investors with at least a $1 million net worth and a $200k annual income (and that net worth cannot include the value of their own residence).
Fees collected, the time it takes to get your cash released, and whether or not you can access your funds before specific fundraising targets are accomplished are all items to consider. If you don’t generate enough money through crowdsourcing, you may need to use other financing options, such as a traditional loan or cash, to bridge the gap.
Raise/Invest Capital
It’s time to go to work once your documentation is in order and you’ve created an action plan.
You’ll need to persevere whether you’re making phone calls or sending emails. Your project will not be appealing to everyone. This is when having a portfolio displaying your competence or the potential return on investment in this project comes in handy. It also helps if you’re good at selling.
If you’re using one of the many real estate crowd funding services available. They will deduct fees, and the funds may not be released until you reach your stated objective. It may also take some time for them to deposit the funds into your bank account. This is understandable given the fact that the sum crowdfunded might be substantial. The security process for large transactions is frequently tightened. Make sure you understand how long it takes to receive your money so you can plan your transaction accordingly.
Real Estate Purchase
It’s time to make your purchase when you’ve met your crowdfunding goals. Whether you’re a full-time developer or a part-time investor, you should be aware that this stage of the process entails a great deal of paperwork and legal wrangling.
The good news is that because you crowdfunded your real estate venture, you can avoid many of the hassles and bottlenecks that come with taking out a bank loan, such as the long wait for mortgage approval, which has thrown many a plan into disarray in today’s tight-fisted lending climate. You’re ready to move forward with crowdfunded funds.
(Hopefully) Make Money
Investors in real estate must enjoy what they do, but the bottom line is the return on investment. You’ll need to figure up the numbers ahead of time to ensure that your crowdfunding campaign is profitable. This includes things like what proportion of each investor’s investment will be returned. It also includes any project-related fees and any capital gains tax that may eat into your profit.
This type of data can help you determine how many investors you can afford to take on before the dividends or interest paid to each one makes a possible real estate project unprofitable.
Crowdfunding & Regulations
Crowdfunding is a way to get money by asking a lot of people for small investments or donations.
Federal securities laws must be followed if a company wants to offer and sell securities through crowdfunding. Under federal securities laws, any offer or sale of a security must be registered with the SEC or meet an exemption.
Regulation Crowdfunding lets securities-based crowdfunding happen without having to be registered with the SEC. This means that companies can offer and sell up to $1.07 million worth of securities without having to register the offering with the SEC.
With the Regulation of Crowdfunding, the general public now has the chance to help start-ups and early-stage businesses get the money they need to grow. A Regulation Crowdfunding offering can be bought by anyone. Due to the risks of this type of investment, however, you can only invest a certain amount in these types of transactions in a 12-month period. How much you can invest depends on how much money you have and how much you make each year.
Types Of Real Estate Crowdfunding Investments
Debt, Preferred Equity, and Common Equity are the three types of real estate crowdfunding investments.
Please see an overview below.
Pros And Cons Of Real Estate Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding gives investors access to a far wider range of investment options and allows them to distribute their investment dollars over more ventures in smaller quantities, resulting in greater diversification.
Despite the fact that real estate crowdfunding has been in some form for many years, it has only lately begun to gain traction, owing to the growth of internet crowdfunding opportunities and platforms.
Pros Of Real Estate Crowdfunding
1. PORTFOLIO DIVERSIFICATION
One of the most prominent advantages of real estate crowdfunding is that it allows you to diversify your portfolio. By diversifying your portfolio, you are essentially spreading the risk associated with a single investment across a number of different investments. Your investment portfolio will be split among other investments if one of your assets fails. To demonstrate the benefit, consider investing $100,000 in investment A all at once, or investing the same amount in $20,000 increments across investments A, B, C, D, and E. You would lose $100,000 if you just invested in investment A and it failed completely. However, if you had spread that money among five investments and one of them failed, you would only have lost $20,000 in total.
2. ACCESSIBILITY
With the advent of crowdfunding, real estate investing has become considerably more accessible. Private real estate investments were previously exclusively open to high-net-worth individuals who possessed the necessary funds and connections. These are no longer impediments to the entrance, thanks to changes in the law and the rise of internet crowdfunding sites. The real estate investment market’s entrance point is currently substantially lower than it has ever been.
3. GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSIFICATION
While portfolio diversification is one of the top benefits of crowdfunding real estate investments, another similar and noteworthy benefit is the ability to diversify your investments geographically. Geographic diversification is vital since different parts of the real estate market might perform extremely differently from one another.
4. PASSIVE INVESTMENT
The fact that crowdfunding is a passive investment vehicle as opposed to more typical real estate investment vehicles, such as direct ownership, is another appealing aspect of investing in real estate through crowdfunding. To ensure that a project is completed on time and to specification, those that invest in traditional ways must take on a significant amount of management responsibility for the project and accept the accompanying risks. A third-party developer or operator handles all of the heavy liftings in a crowdfunded real estate investment. As a customer, you have faith in the developer or operator to complete the project on schedule and within budget. When it comes to property management, you don’t have to bother with it at all. As a result, you’ll have more time to devote to other investment endeavours.
5. SMALL SIZE INVESTMENT
You can become a real estate investor using crowdsourcing if you previously couldn’t do so due to the large initial investment required by traditional real estate investments. Crowd funding reduces this initial investment requirement significantly. In fact, some crowdfunding platforms enable investors to put as little as $500 down on a project. When it comes to investing in real estate, you no longer need to have tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. If you’re new to real estate investing or want to diversify your holdings, a smaller investment allows you to “dip your toe in the water.”
Cons Of Real Estate Crowdfunding
1. LOWER RETURNS
While real estate crowdfunding has many advantages, it also has some drawbacks that you should be aware of before you begin investing. As a potential downside, your return is likely to be smaller than if you were to invest directly in the property. Since you’re investing in a developer or operator, they need to generate money as well. That’s often accounted for by your investment return. The return you do receive, on the other hand, is dependent on a variety of circumstances, including, but not limited to, the type of investment (debt or equity) and the investment’s final performance. An 8-10% return on debt and an 18-23% return on equity are reasonable expectations if your real estate venture is a success.
2. INCOMPLETE INVESTMENTS.
Investing through crowdfunds has the additional drawback of being considered an illiquid investment. If the necessity arises, it will be difficult to liquidate these investments. As a result of the lengthy process of finding a buyer for your investment property, the property’s value could decrease over time. In the event of an emergency, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to get a return on your investment.
3. LACK OF CONTROL
Investing in real estate crowdfunding may not be the best choice if you prefer to maintain complete control over your money. You will no longer be involved in the property’s development after you invest in it through crowdfunding. Traditional types of funding, on the other hand, provide investors with more control over the enterprise.
It’s easier to acquire the profits you’re looking for with more control over the development process when you’ve previously managed large projects and are certain that you can do the same with a real estate project.
Four Best Real Estate Crowdfunding Sites/Companies
Crowdfunding for commercial real estate investments is a relatively new concept. Some websites allow ordinary people to invest in assets that were previously only available to the wealthy. Developers and other real estate professionals are paired with private investors who are looking for exposure to real estate without the difficulties of owning, financing, and managing properties.
While real estate crowdfunding carries a high degree of risk, it can also help you diversify your portfolio while also generating above-average yields. Over two dozen platforms were analyzed to determine the best real estate crowdfunding sites. These are the alphabetical list of them all.
1 CrowdStreet
CrowdStreet is one of the better-known real estate crowdfunding sites. It has been around for a while and has a proven track record. It also has two different types of investment funds, so you can spread out your investments.
CrowdStreet started in 2014, and its main office is in Portland, Oregon. The company has closed on 473 commercial real estate investment offerings and says that about 44 of them have been fully realized.
CrowdStreet offers three investment options to choose from:
- Individual deals with real estate investment opportunities that you select
- Diversified funds that allow you to invest in several different vehicles in one fund
- A professionally managed real estate portfolio.
Although the sum varies, most of CrowdStreet’s funds demand at least a $25,000 contribution. Fees for funds normally range from 0.50 percent to 2.5 percent, however, they might vary depending on the offering. Depending on the investment, you might expect a return of 11.5 percent to 26.4 percent. The total amount distributed to investors is roughly $135 million.
Note that the company only accepts accredited investors, which means you must have a net worth of at least $1 million, or a joint net worth of at least $300,000, with a realistic prospect of maintaining that level in the current year.
2 Fundrise
Fundrise accepts clients regardless of their income or net worth, and the company’s low fees and option to spend as little as $500 allow anyone to engage in real estate without having to put up a large sum of money upfront.
Fundrise is based in Washington, D.C., and was launched in 2012. The organisation has made over $4 billion in real estate investments in the United States, manages over $1 billion in equity for over 130,000 clients, and has a 10.11 percent annualised average return on investments.
Unlike some other organisations, Fundrise accepts investors of all income levels, allowing anyone to register an account and start investing with as little as $500. Aside from the original beginning plan, the company offers four other plans: Basic ($1,000 minimum investment), Core ($5,000 required investment), Advanced ($10,000 minimum investment), and Premium ($100,000 minimum investment).
You can use more portfolio and account features with each upgrade. The Basic plan, for example, allows you to set and manage investment goals, whereas the Core plan has similar capabilities as well as exposure to eREIT (real estate investment trust) funds and the option to tailor your investing approach.
One thing to keep in mind with each account type is that understanding Fundrise’s cost structure might be difficult. You’ll pay a 0.15 percent yearly advising cost, a 0.85 percent annual asset management fee, and perhaps development and liquidation portfolio fees, even if you convince friends to join for free.
3 DiversyFund
Non-accredited investors can start an account with DiversyFund for as low as $500.
DiversyFund was founded in 2014 and is based in San Diego. The company differs from typical real estate crowdfunding platforms in that it owns and manages the homes directly rather than acting as a broker connecting investors to developers working on specific projects.
According to the company, they give investors a 7% preferred return, which means the company doesn’t take a cut until investors receive 100% of their initial 7% return. However, because you won’t receive the benefits until they sell the home, it may take several years for your investment to pay off.
There are no management fees, which is beneficial when you are just getting started with investing. It’s also ideal for those who want to invest in real estate but don’t know much about it because the company manages your money and you don’t have to make any decisions about which properties to buy.
Although DiversyFund is an excellent vehicle for new investors just getting their feet wet, if you’re looking for long-term tax benefits, they don’t offer retirement accounts.
DiversyFund is now one of the smallest real estate crowdfunding platforms, with just roughly 30,000 clients contributing more than $100 million.
4 Origin Investments
Origin Investments specializes in Build-to-Core properties, which means that the following construction, the properties will convert to Class A properties, providing investors with consistent cash flow.
Origin Investments is based in Chicago and was launched in 2007. In addition to managing funds, the co-founders have invested $50 million in the business, and executives and workers control 90% of the company.
Origin is different from other real estate crowdfunding platforms in that it purchases properties directly rather than managing REITs. Phoenix, Dallas, Chicago, Charlotte, Raleigh, NC, Denver, Houston, Nashville, Orlando, Austin, TX, and Atlanta are the only 11 cities where the corporation purchases investment properties.
Investors can choose between two funds offered by Origin. The first is the QOZ Fund, which is a tax-advantaged multi-family start-up. The second is the IncomePlus Fund, which invests in multifamily properties that provide investors with passive, consistent income. Although the organisation claims that no losses have been realised, they do reserve the right to refuse redemption requests, so you should consider investing in their funds as a long-term strategy.
Although Origin publishes returns on its website, they appear to range from 8% to over 50% IRR, depending on the project. The minimum investment amount varies, but is typically around $50,000 and is only available to accredited investors.
How To Get Started With Crowdfunding In Real Estate
It’s not difficult to find crowdfunding platforms for real estate investments online that are eager to accept your money. It’s critical, though, to conduct thorough research and due diligence before making a decision to invest in real estate on the internet. As you get started, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Check out several websites and businesses to see what they have to offer before making a final decision.
- Consider the advantages and disadvantages of any online real estate crowdfunding solutions before making a decision.
- To avoid overspending, think about how much money you can afford to invest without straining yourself.
- Determine your desired rate of return on investment (ROI).
- Decide how long you can live without access to your funds and how long you are willing to wait.
- Look into what kind of real estate or property holdings you’d most want to invest in.
- Prepare any essential paperwork or tax filings to show your position as an accredited investor.
- Check out what current investors have to say about a site or service by scanning and reviewing user feedback and comments.
- Make sure to talk to your accountant about the possible tax consequences of any investments you make.
- Consider the best options for crowdfunding real estate investments in terms of financial instruments.
How To Invest In Real Estate Crowdfunding
To begin investing in real estate through the use of crowdsourcing, follow these steps:
- Determine whether or not you are a qualified investor. Your net worth can be calculated for free utilizing Personal Capital’s account linking service. Accredited investors are allowed on several real estate crowdfunding platforms. Non-accredited investors are also allowed in some cases.
- There are a wide variety of crowdfunding platforms for real estate investors to choose from depending on many factors, including investment minimums and the number of deals they have completed.
- Determine which real estate crowdfunding platforms best suit your financial situation. An accredited investor will have additional possibilities if they choose to invest.
- Decide how long you want to invest and how much you want to invest.
- Do you want to live in an office building or an apartment complex? Do you prefer to work with companies that have equity or those that have debt?
- To analyze real estate crowdfunding deals, use the aforementioned 10-point checklist after you’ve established your criteria.
- Monitor the real estate crowdfunding platform’s regular updates on your property.
How to Choose the Right Real Estate Crowdfunding Platform
Real estate crowdfunding platforms do not have a defined business model.
The following are some of the most important distinctions:
- Investment types
- Property types and location
- Platform experience and history
- Fee structure
Every crowdfunding platform needs to have a real estate background in order to be able to narrow down the options and select the most promising and attractive ones.
The quality of a platform’s management team and real estate experience are critical to its long-term success. Occasionally, real estate platforms are controlled by pure-play “Silicon Valley” software corporations.
Some platforms, however, are run by seasoned real estate professionals who have used technology to launch new enterprises and expand their customer bases.. These platforms have the potential to provide their users with access to excellent career prospects.
As a result, investors need to think carefully about the platforms they want to use when making their investment decisions.
Geographic restrictions
As a result, it’s critical to confirm your eligibility to invest before diving deeper into the world of a certain platform’s offerings.
Investors from outside of Europe may not be able to use several platforms in Europe. The platform may impose additional legal requirements on investors who are not citizens of certain countries.
Platform history
The track record of a platform is an important factor to consider when making an investment decision.
An investor’s best bet is to dig into the platform’s past for the following details:
- How long has the platform been operating?
- How many projects have they crowdfunded so far, and how many of those projects have been funded and completed successfully?
- Their average return performance
- If the platform is regulated by the local regulation authority
- Have they been fined by the local government for breaching regulations?
Investors can request extra documentation, such as a company’s track record or its funding source, even if the answers to these questions aren’t readily available on the site.
Investor experience
Investors should, without a doubt, take into account the personal experiences and feedback of current and former customers when selecting a platform.
Independent review sites like TrustPilot or BrikkApp can be quite helpful in determining a platform’s suitability for investors.
A good place to get the opinions of other investors on a certain platform or topic is a community of investors, such as this Facebook group.
How to Make Money Investing in Crowdfunding
Do you have a project that you’d want to fund? Or are you looking for a way to expand your business? It could be time to scale up your borehole drilling project in your area.
While there is no magic formula for making money through crowdfunding, there are a few things you can do to improve your chances.
The most important thing you can do is plan a compelling fundraiser and develop a donor-friendly environment. Invest time and effort in your fundraising tale to entice your friends and family to join in.
1 Check the crowdfunding rules and regulations
As an investor or a company seeking funding, you must be well-versed in the rules of any platform in which you are considering investing.
The bulk of crowdfunding services imposes their limitations.
Kickstarter, for example, does not allow equity crowdfunding and has a list of topics that you cannot include in your project. Indiegogo, on the other hand, supplies campaign owners with a thorough list of campaign parameters. GoFundMe, on the other hand, demands you to submit colour copies of your identification documents.
2 Prepare in advance and decide on your donation collection strategy
You must be able to provide compelling responses to questions such as:
- What is the primary benefit that your campaign will offer?
- What’s the point of that campaign?
- What are the demographics of your target audience?
- Who are your main rivals, and how do you set yourself apart?
- What is the amount of money you need to raise?
- What exactly will that money be used for?
- Which type of crowdfunding platform will you use?
Most of the time, people will give you money by debit or credit card or by transferring money from their bank account.
3 Select the appropriate donation crowdfunding platform
Begin by determining what kind of compensation plan you wish to implement. Investigate the maximum duration of campaigns in various media. That’s something to consider.
What is the maximum amount you can raise?
Also, figure out who is going to view it. Different platforms may attract different types of backers.
4 Build a credible, inspiring content and profile
The following items should be on your crowdfunding campaign content checklist:
- At least one video pitch for a hero
- Professional videos and images
- headlines and content that grabs the reader’s attention
- Kit for journalists
- Use of social media
