Fundrise. Real Estate Investing with some pretty substantial returns. Is it worth it? Is it legit? Should you invest in it? Here’s what I discovered. Enjoy! Add me on Snapchat/Instagram: GPStephan
Join the private Real Estate Facebook Group:
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The Real Estate Agent Academy: Learn how to start and grow your career as a Real Estate Agent to a Six-Figure Income, how to best build your network of clients, expand into luxury markets, and the exact steps I’ve used to grow my business from $0 to over $120 million in sales: https://goo.gl/UFpi4c
Fundrise is a real estate investing service that allows you access to private market real estate deals that they say should “deliver superior risk-adjusted returns over time versus a portfolio of publicly traded stocks.” The biggest difference is that Fundrise is NOT publicly traded on a stock exchange, but they are publicly available. By being publicly available, this means that anyone can invest because they comply with the SEC disclosure regulations, and by doing so, they don’t limit themselves to accredited investors
So there’s gotta be a catch, RIGHT? So I read through all 225 pages of their fine print. Here’s what I found.
First concern is lack of liquidity. By investing through Fundrise, you’re pretty much tying up your money for 5 years. Even though they say that if you pull out your money prior to then at their redemption rate, which is 97% at its lowest - they still make it very clear there is no guaranteed return of your investment with no immediate plan to buy back your shares. As from their fine print: “If we do not successfully implement a liquidity transaction, you may have to hold your investment for an indefinite period.” It goes on to say “Fundrise Advisors, LLC, our wholly-owned subsidiary, has the authority, in its sole discretion, to limit redemptions by each shareholder during any quarter, including if the Manager deems such action to be in the best interest of the shareholders as a whole.”
Second concern I have is their fees…which they say are 1% annually. This seems a bit high compared to other lower cost options, namely a Vanguard REIT - which charges 0.26% annually as a fee, or 74% LESS than FundRise. But, in FundRise’s defense, they’re a smaller company which invests in riskier assets that should generate higher returns to compensate to the higher fee.
My third concern - and also a major reason I’d never invest in this - is that the dividends are taxes as ordinary income at your ordinary income rate. One of the many advantages of holding long term investments is capturing the long term capital gains tax rate - this is typically SIGNIFICANTLY lower than the tax rate for ordinary income.
My fourth concern is how this investment will hold up in a down market. While I agree with their market strategy and can’t find any faults with where they’re investing, at some point there will be a plateau in growth, while these returns are possible NOW, I’m unsure how sustainable these are long term - and again, if you want to re-balance your portfolio, you may be stuck with your investment. And they very much acknowledge this in their fine print: “The significant growth we have experienced, particularly with respect to assets under management and revenues, will be difficult to sustain.”
Fifth, I’m always a little hesitant about companies that give referral fees. While often it’s a nice gesture to give customers SOMETHING for referring business, and I totally agree with this business model, in the age of the internet, there will be people out there who will write falsely positive reviews just to get the referral bonus. When this happens, honest criticism becomes buried or harder to find.
For someone wanting exposure to real estate, I believe there are many other REIT options out there that offer the liquidity and tax treatment that put you in a much better position, even if they’ll give you slightly lower returns. I’d rather sacrifice a percent or two JUST to have access to my money when I need it. So overall, no it’s not a scam - and there are some positives about what they’re doing - but from what I see, the downsides just outweigh the upside, rendering other options as more attractive when put side by side.
For business inquiries or one-on-one real estate investing/real estate agent consulting or coaching, you can reach me at GrahamStephanBusiness @gmail.com
Suggested reading:
The Millionaire Real Estate Agent: http://goo.gl/TPTSVC
Your money or your life: https://goo.gl/fmlaJR
The Millionaire Real Estate Investor: https://goo.gl/sV9xtl
How to Win Friends and Influence People: https://goo.gl/1f3Meq
Think and grow rich: https://goo.gl/SSKlyu
Awaken the giant within: https://goo.gl/niIAEI
The Book on Rental Property Investing: https://goo.gl/qtJqFq
Favorite Credit Cards:
Chase Sapphire Reserve - https://goo.gl/sT68EC
American Express Platinum - https://goo.gl/C9n4e3
Join the private Real Estate Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/therealestatemillionairemastermind/
The Real Estate Agent Academy: Learn how to start and grow your career as a Real Estate Agent to a Six-Figure Income, how to best build your network of clients, expand into luxury markets, and the exact steps I’ve used to grow my business from $0 to over $120 million in sales: https://goo.gl/UFpi4c
Fundrise is a real estate investing service that allows you access to private market real estate deals that they say should “deliver superior risk-adjusted returns over time versus a portfolio of publicly traded stocks.” The biggest difference is that Fundrise is NOT publicly traded on a stock exchange, but they are publicly available. By being publicly available, this means that anyone can invest because they comply with the SEC disclosure regulations, and by doing so, they don’t limit themselves to accredited investors
So there’s gotta be a catch, RIGHT? So I read through all 225 pages of their fine print. Here’s what I found.
First concern is lack of liquidity. By investing through Fundrise, you’re pretty much tying up your money for 5 years. Even though they say that if you pull out your money prior to then at their redemption rate, which is 97% at its lowest - they still make it very clear there is no guaranteed return of your investment with no immediate plan to buy back your shares. As from their fine print: “If we do not successfully implement a liquidity transaction, you may have to hold your investment for an indefinite period.” It goes on to say “Fundrise Advisors, LLC, our wholly-owned subsidiary, has the authority, in its sole discretion, to limit redemptions by each shareholder during any quarter, including if the Manager deems such action to be in the best interest of the shareholders as a whole.”
Second concern I have is their fees…which they say are 1% annually. This seems a bit high compared to other lower cost options, namely a Vanguard REIT - which charges 0.26% annually as a fee, or 74% LESS than FundRise. But, in FundRise’s defense, they’re a smaller company which invests in riskier assets that should generate higher returns to compensate to the higher fee.
My third concern - and also a major reason I’d never invest in this - is that the dividends are taxes as ordinary income at your ordinary income rate. One of the many advantages of holding long term investments is capturing the long term capital gains tax rate - this is typically SIGNIFICANTLY lower than the tax rate for ordinary income.
My fourth concern is how this investment will hold up in a down market. While I agree with their market strategy and can’t find any faults with where they’re investing, at some point there will be a plateau in growth, while these returns are possible NOW, I’m unsure how sustainable these are long term - and again, if you want to re-balance your portfolio, you may be stuck with your investment. And they very much acknowledge this in their fine print: “The significant growth we have experienced, particularly with respect to assets under management and revenues, will be difficult to sustain.”
Fifth, I’m always a little hesitant about companies that give referral fees. While often it’s a nice gesture to give customers SOMETHING for referring business, and I totally agree with this business model, in the age of the internet, there will be people out there who will write falsely positive reviews just to get the referral bonus. When this happens, honest criticism becomes buried or harder to find.
For someone wanting exposure to real estate, I believe there are many other REIT options out there that offer the liquidity and tax treatment that put you in a much better position, even if they’ll give you slightly lower returns. I’d rather sacrifice a percent or two JUST to have access to my money when I need it. So overall, no it’s not a scam - and there are some positives about what they’re doing - but from what I see, the downsides just outweigh the upside, rendering other options as more attractive when put side by side.
For business inquiries or one-on-one real estate investing/real estate agent consulting or coaching, you can reach me at GrahamStephanBusiness @gmail.com
Suggested reading:
The Millionaire Real Estate Agent: http://goo.gl/TPTSVC
Your money or your life: https://goo.gl/fmlaJR
The Millionaire Real Estate Investor: https://goo.gl/sV9xtl
How to Win Friends and Influence People: https://goo.gl/1f3Meq
Think and grow rich: https://goo.gl/SSKlyu
Awaken the giant within: https://goo.gl/niIAEI
The Book on Rental Property Investing: https://goo.gl/qtJqFq
Favorite Credit Cards:
Chase Sapphire Reserve - https://goo.gl/sT68EC
American Express Platinum - https://goo.gl/C9n4e3
Is somebody, if not the Fundrise shareholders, and if so Who? is depreciating the assets on fundrise for tax advantages? It seems like regardless the investment properties would be eligible. Do they not want to do the accounting or are they taking it elsewhere or somehow passing the savings on 🤷
Thank you, ma nerd ❤😅
There used to be a reply from @Fundrise on here. Was it deleted?!?
This is five years ago. What's the update on Fundrise ?
Thanks a lot graham this video you did here gives me a ton of the very important information. Coming from an honest business person gives me closure and a much better understanding then what i was trying to get reading there fine print so big thank you
than you.
You earned a like and a sub 😂 for the cartman impression
Still feel the same
Fundrise is great! You can make loads of money… you just can't have your money..😂
Hmm..good review and good to know
Thank you 🙏 4 your time
So what app or website would you recommend to invest in real estate?
Is there an update for this video? @Graham Stephan
Your calculation is off with purchasing the property we did not calculate the time and the effort to find the right property. You did not calculate The maintenance or any repairs on the property over the years neither the management costs of the property neither of the cost for selling the property. All of this headache will not find in fund raise platform they solve it for you so your opinion is bias
Great video! Very informative! But are the built for longevity? Are they going to be around 5-10 years from now? Also will it be a smooth transaction on getting your investments back, or will It be a long, drawn out process? Thank you!
Thank you thank you thank you!!! Would you PLEASE do an updated video??? Have any of their policies changed? What’s happening with the dividends with the market having gone down? (Feb ‘23)
It is 10 dollars now 🙂
I thought that fundrise was a good company until the end of the year 2022. I had $23000 invested and for 364 days of the the year I thought that I was making a profit from dividends and appreciation. The last day of the the year it devalued $1000. I lost everything that I gained from dividends and appreciation. I made nothing. The fact that it happened the last day of the year makes me feel that there was some underhanded manipulation and someone had a nice Christmas bonus at my expense.
Thank you very much
What happened to FTX my friend lol
What should i do with my money can you give me some tips?
I need help teach me how to make a lot of money and I'll change the world
How about Meet Kevin's new real estate venture almost similar to Fundrise? Can you say this video is somewhat similar comparable to Meet Kevin's new re venture?
Thank u very informative and to the point!
Any updates this video was very educated
very helpful information – thank you for making this content!!
Fun dries😅😂
Thank you so much Graham for the time you put into this and your perspective.
This is an old video, but how are your returns looking with your own real estate syndication projects?
Appreciate your analysis on private REITS like this one. I was wondering what you think about diversification of your portfolio in regards of public traded REITS being added to retirement. Using something like an HSA to invest into it to avoid the capital gain taxes.