It’s fast becoming among the top sought-after ways to invest in real estate However, what are the advantages and disadvantages of crowdfunding for property?
Yes, there are dangers. You’re investing in people that you’ll never ever meet.
There are however benefits, since it allows you to spread a small investment across multiple properties.
Let’s take an review of what the primary advantages and disadvantages of crowdfunding properties are, to help you determine whether it’s the right choice for you.
What is Property Crowdfunding?
Before we dive too deep into it, it’s important to start clarifying what exactly we mean by “Property Crowdfunding’.
If we first look at the definition in the dictionary”Crowdfunding” we will discover that it is:
The process or activity of obtaining funds from a lot of people, usually via a website, to fund a project or small-scale business.
The short version is that crowdfunding is the process whereby a lot of individuals pool their money typically through websites, to allow the creation of a more substantial amount.
Property crowdfunding occurs, as such the process of pooling their funds to purchase an investment property, whether to rent it out or to sell. It can also be used to finance a development project.
Every person then reaps the earnings and profits according to their portion of the initial investment.
How Property Crowdfunding works:
The process of crowdfunding for property usually begins by establishing a website which acts as a intermediary. The website’s owner is usually the one seeking potential investment opportunities.
It could be that they are buying properties directly and managing these properties for investors.
It could also be that they are introducing investors to property developers or other property managers and acting as the intermediary between them.
Therefore, a successful property crowdfunding site will have to find opportunities (directly or in other ways) and also attracting enough investors to fund the potential opportunities.
It’s an interesting dilemma because investors aren’t likely to sign up to a property crowdfunding website until they have great opportunities, however it’s difficult to find without a crowd of investors waiting to grab the chance!
If a website is successful they can promote an opportunity, and let hundreds, sometimes thousands of investors in exchange for a portion of the earnings it generates.
After the money is made ready to be paid to investors or when the investment has reached expiration date (in cases of investments with a fixed term) The crowdfunding site will make the payments to investors.
They’ll also be able to deduct their own fees at a certain moment in the process to pay for locating and managing the possibility as well as crowdfunding.
There’s of course more to it but this is the basic procedure in a succinct manner.
The advantages of property crowdfunding
There are many advantages to property equity crowdfunding which include (but aren’t restricted to):
All are Open to Anyone – Certain sites let you invest only PS100 which makes property investments easier for a large range of people.
No experience is required No experience is required. You don’t have to be a pro to begin.
Risk Spreading – As you’re investing with less money, it’s much easier to spread your investment over many possibilities.
Good Returns – The yields you earn are greater than if you deposit the cash in an account at a bank.
You Can Have A Say There are many crowdfunding sites that permit you to have the final say on the tenants you choose to accept, and at what time you can raise rents, and so on.
The fact is, the order matters to you the most will be contingent on your individual situation.
Disadvantages of Property Crowdfunding
Like everything else however, there are some disadvantages to be aware of when you are thinking about making a bet on property crowdfunding like:
Capital At Risk : Investments may be able to go down and up. You may lose all your investment
Tie-Ins: Although some websites allow investors to withdraw their investments earlier but in most cases, there’ll be a charge for doing this.
Lack of Control – While you’ll typically vote, the decision-making is in accordance with the majority votes.
Access is not permitted – You can’t simply walk into the building to check its condition or make changes.
Liquidity–Properties that perform poorly could be difficult to get rid in the early.
Certain of these could or may not be an issue for you. It’s contingent on the amount you’re willing to put in and your attitude to taking risks.
The best advice we could offer you is to not invest more than you are able to lose.
Then, is the Property Crowdfunding Market A Good Investment?
We’ve now considered the advantages and disadvantages of crowdfunding for property Can we say with confidence that it’s a sound investment?
Sure, there are benefits to this way of investing, however it’s also quite different from the traditional method of investing in properties.
If you have the money to invest in property yourself, and you have the time and energy to handle everything, then crowdfunding might not be the right choice the right choice for you.
You’ll probably earn more and will appreciate the ability to make all the choices in your own way.
But, if you’ve got only a few dollars or don’t have the time or desire to properly manage your investment property crowdfunding can open the possibility of investing in a way that has never been before.
It could also be an ideal opportunity to test your luck into the water if are just beginning to invest.
Participate in a handful of crowdfunding projects for property and start getting familiar with the terms that are used as well as the most common issues faced by investors.
How to Start Crowdfunding for Property
After having weighed the advantages and disadvantages of crowdfunding for property you’ve decided to try it then you’ll have to decide on a platform you’d like to invest in potential opportunities.
There are a variety of websites to pick from, all of which has its unique pros and pros and. Some are focused on buying to let opportunities while others focus on opportunities for development. Some specialize in lending to property investors.