Public-private investments are now a hot item due to recent SEC rule changes to private offerings making them more accessible. And, according to a 2019 SEC Report, capital raised through private offerings now exceeds capital raised through IPOs. This has created a feeding frenzy attracting companies of all types competing for your investment capital—many credible and many not so credible.
As such, numerous investors have set their sights on real estate syndication opportunities, which are real estate deals in which a group of investors pools their capital together to purchase a large real estate property. This is done to pool together not only fiscal resources, but other types of resources as well, like knowledge of the market or property management experience, to ensure stable investments.
There are typically two diverse roles in a property syndication deal: syndicator and investor. For those who are interested in investing in their first syndication—or even for those who have been around the syndication block—I’d like to offer some helpful insights from my own experiences into how to navigate the syndication labyrinth and come out alive. Here’s what you should know.
Two rules for vetting syndication opportunities
“Rule No. 1: Never lose money. Rule No. 2: Never forget rule No. 1.”
– Warren Buffett
Warren Buffett’s first two rules for investing are pretty good starting points for vetting the syndication opportunities presented to you. If you proceed cautiously and ask the right questions, you’ll improve your chances of not losing money in a syndication.
Three questions to ask yourself before investing in a syndication
Before we get into the top questions to ask a syndication partner before investing in a syndication, there are essential questions you should ask yourself, which are outlined below.
It’s important to ask yourself these questions prior to vetting any partners or potential deals. After all, knowing your personal…