It is then up to the platform to conduct due diligence on each proposal to ensure they are viable before they are ever listed on their website. Remember, developers are required to submit a company profile along with their real estate offering when they utilize a technology platforms. What you need to focus on is how they performed when the market changed.” (Based on this we also ask developers for a 10 year track record as we are interested how they fared in the last cycle.) We had just had the Global Financial Crisis and he said, “ In rising markets anyone can make money. I learnt a great lesson from Pieter Feenstra in 2009. How did they preform when the markets changed? Investigate their history – including past development projects – so you can determine if they are worthy of your investment. One of the most important things to consider is the track record and expertise of the real estate developers or sponsors who have turned to technology platforms or other intermediaries to raise capital. Īs with any investment plan, it is imperative for investors to do their homework first. To achieve this they need systems and this is why you need your SQ (Discussed in the 8 Steps to Wealth through Real Estate Micro Degree). With an understanding of the numbers, they can also calculate the risks involved and ensure they can properly manage them. Smart investors run the numbers through their systems first and make decisions based on sound financial facts, not only the possible returns the investment can generate. Investing based on your emotions or a gut feeling is usually not a wise decision. Law Two – Do Your Homework, take responsibility! Investors should take the time to plan for all possible scenarios, diversify across multiple regions and industries, and avoid overexposure to real estate or any class of investments. As with any asset class, the world of real estate is cyclical -what goes up, must come down, eventually. These books provide a good starting point, but it will be up to the individual to continue to build on that foundation and consider investments carefully before pulling the trigger. To get started, here are a few excellent resources that will provide a solid understanding of building wealth through real estate investment: Relying on the advice of (well-meaning) friends and family is an inadequate education and often leads to losing one’s investment. ( See IQ Pillar in the 8 Steps to Wealth through Real Estate Micro Degree – the starting point) Thankfully, the information age has made it possible for everyone to learn about investing in any asset class-but many may not know where to start. This adage also applies to real estate, when new investors excitedly pour capital into new, seemingly promising deals without a proper education on industry fundamentals. It’s been said that ignorance is the difference between truth and perception. Law One – Understand the Fundamentals & Invest in Yourself Whether direct investing, crowdfunding, REITs or Collaborative SMART Investing, the 7 fundamentals laws of real estate investing remain the same: