Every home builder has run into some resistance when opening a new community. There is always a level of community impact from new development, and those unhappy about new growth or redevelopment are often the loudest.
While currently limited to commercial projects (and only in DC and Virginia), Fundrise.com is a new platform that has gotten a lot of attention for good reason. Oversimplified, it’s like Kickstarter for commercial real estate; Allowing almost anyone to invest money, beginning with relatively small amounts, in commercial real estate projects. Here are some of the reasons it excites me:
- Allows individuals to invest in commercial real estate for as little as $100
- This initial offering provides benefits like discounts from the tenant businesses to those with a $1000 or greater investment
- All investors will receive a percentage of the investment’s profit
- Encourages community members to literally invest in their own community
Citizens are well-known for making statements like “that ought to be a _______ store/restaraunt/etc.” With Fundrise, not only are residents able to put their money where there mouth is, they’ll actually be financially invested in making sure the businesses they want in their community succeed. Would you shop at a grocery store who rented commercial space from you? Me, too.
Citizens get a say in what happens in their community. Businesses get citizens invested in their success. Win-win.
Check it out at Fundrise.com.
