Both Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and private equity real estate (PERE) firms give investors an alternative to traditional real estate investing. Instead of spending time managing tenants, coordinating general contractors for improvements and negotiating the purchase and sale of the property—investors can passively reap the benefits of this historically wealth-building asset class.
A REIT is a type of company that owns, operates or finances income-producing commercial real estate properties. Established by Congress in 1960, REITs are asset vehicles in which investors can purchase shares and gain exposure to the potential income and profits generated by the underlying real estate assets.
A PERE firm—like Caliber—also pools investor capital into real estate assets, but the two are legally and operationally different. PERE firms’ funds are not publicly traded and are only available to accredited or high net-worth investors. This may offer certain advantages, which we will explore in-depth later.
Did you know that you can buy PERE using a Self-Directed IRA? Click the link to learn more.
Join Chris Loeffler, Caliber CEO, as he shares Caliber’s journey from a small startup to a market leader in commercial real estate asset management and gives key insights on Caliber’s innovative investment approach, including self-directed IRAs and private loans.
There are various approaches utilized by Caliber, such as converting commercial spaces, investing in distressed real estate, and introducing pickleball facilities. In this podcast, Chris discusses the importance and intricacies of approaching opportunity, building investor trust, securing funding, transitioning to the public domain, and maximizing returns within Opportunity Zones.
To download a copy of the slides used in this presentation, click the link below!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1518oD2pBjn9tAVN5v5MAS7CE5oFNWtE7/view?usp=sharing
Additional Resources:
There are many seasoned investors and advisors who misunderstand critical aspects of Opportunity Zone Investing.
We’ve put together a unique guide to help you educate yourself and avoid some of the common misconceptions:
Click here to get access to “The Accredited Investor’s Guide To Opportunity Zone Investing” today.If you are ready to speak with a senior member of our Wealth Development team, contact us today to schedule a call.
Important: Investments in Caliber private placements can lose entire value, are illiquid, and are speculative. Refer to the Amended and Restated Private Placement Memorandum (PPM) for a more detailed discussion of risk factors.
REITs Requirements
To qualify as a REIT, companies must follow specific laws established and implemented by the IRS:
- 90% of taxable income must be paid back to shareholders on a consistent basis. This is tax advantaged at the REIT level and not at the investor level
- 75% of gross income must be acquired from real estate-related origins
- 95% of gross income must be passive
- Be structured like a mutual fund where investments are pooled together and overseen by a fund manager
- Must be held primarily by shareholders (a minimum of 100 after its first year operating)
- Be treated as a corporation by Internal Revenue Code for tax purposes
REITs and Company listings
Publicly traded – Investors purchase and sell REITs using an SEC-regulated national securities exchange. Publicly traded REITs also tend to be more liquid.
Public non-traded – While registered with the SEC, these REITs aren’t listed on national securities exchanges. The benefit of this listing is that the REITs aren’t wounded by market fluctuations and are generally more stable.
Private – Shares of private REITs are generally sold to institutional investors and aren’t listed on the national securities exchange or registered with the SEC.These tend to lean more illiquid, but the return potential may be worth the wait.
Read about the DoubleTree by Hilton QOZ Development Deal Overview today.
Why Invest in Private Equity Real Estate?
If you are a high net-worth investor with a long-term time horizon, PERE funds might be an attractive option, as they allow passive investment in real estate with more direct ownership of the actual properties. Additionally, a PERE firm takes the burden of management off of the investor’s plate and has the added benefit of in-house expertise on the investment cycle.
One disadvantage of investing in PERE is that it’s less liquid.
Unlike REITs, which are publicly traded like stocks, real estate cannot be easily converted to cash at its fair market value. Selling an apartment complex or office building, for example, may take months or years to secure the optimum market rate.
But in exchange for this lack of flexibility and to mitigate the risk of locking up funds for a longer period, investors demand what is called an “illiquidity premium”— a higher rate of return. These excess returns do not exist in public, highly liquid markets, and could mean better ROI over time.
The Disadvantages of REITs
Limited growth potential
REITs are required to pay at least 90% of their taxable income to investors in the form of dividends, which can truncate the company’s growth. They may also pay out capital even if the asset is underperforming. This does not bode well for the asset or the investment. By contrast, PERE companies pay out only when there is cash flow to do so.
High fees
Both traded and non-traded REITs often have a minimum target of $1 billion in capital. These structures are typically “fee-heavy” with a minimum of 15% of the investment made being utilized to pay offering costs, brokerages, etc. This may translate to less return for the investor.
Inefficient
A REIT can be expensive to create and requires a significant amount of staff and costs to manage. Most REITs are also structured as investment companies but outsource a majority of the real estate services. This can lead to projects that are delayed and over budget. Additionally, the money constantly coming into REITs can lead to inopportune acquisitions. Managers may spend to complete the deal quickly without doing proper due diligence. PERE firms do the opposite: Identify the asset, secure financing, then raise capital.
Volatility
Since publicly-traded REITs are exchanged on the stock market, they are subject to fluctuations in value.
Private Equity Real Estate Advantages
Leaner and more efficient
PERE funds are designed to be large enough to take advantage of real estate investment opportunities but small enough not to require an army of employees and brokers to manage. Less overhead means a stronger focus on the success of the asset and generating returns for investors. PERE funds make more of their money on the back end after certain performance metrics are hit rather than the front-end fees associated with REITs.
Real property ownership
Instead of relying on the day-to-day value of a piece of paper created by Wall Street as with a REIT, investors actually own real property and can generate income based on their profitability.
Incentivized for success
PERE firms specialize in the acquisition, development, operations and sale of a property. It is in their best interests to actively seek favorable investment opportunities based on factors like cash flow, location, and job growth. This in-house expertise also allows these firms to optimize the property—by investing in improvements to management, operations, design, architecture, etc.—and to find the right buyer at the right time to maximize returns. Incentives are aligned for private equity to not only raise money but also perform.
Tax benefits
PERE investments may present tax benefits to the investor.
If you are an accredited investor with a longer time horizon, higher risk tolerance, and no need for immediate liquidity, you may find private equity to be a more suitable and cost-effective alternative investment option for your portfolio.
Before you invest
Just like with any major financial decision, it’s essential to research and understand all components before investing. Disclosure filings and prospectus documents are available through the sec.gov website and are good sources of information surrounding investment security.
About Caliber
Caliber – the Wealth Development Company – is a middle-market alternative asset manager and fund sponsor with approximately $500 million in assets under management.
The Company sponsors private funds, private syndications, as well as externally-managed real estate investment trusts (REITs). It conducts substantially all business through CaliberCos, Inc., a vertically integrated series of businesses that are strengthened by more than 70 professionals with decades of experience in commercial real estate, capital markets, alternative investments as well as mergers and acquisitions.
The Company strives to build wealth for its investors by offering a diverse host of investment solutions that fit its investors’ optimal balance of risk-adjusted returns and attractive investment performance. Caliber primarily focuses on middle-market growth areas, such as Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, Utah, Idaho and Alaska.
The Company assesses other markets that have similar supply and demand fundamentals with emerging population and job growth. Caliber delivers a full suite of alternative investments to a $4 trillion market that includes high net worth, accredited and qualified investors, as well as family offices and smaller institutions. This strategy allows the Company to opportunistically compete in an evolving middle-market arena for alternative investments that range between $5 million and $50 million on a per-project basis
Click hereto see Caliber’s current property portfolio.
If you would like to speak to someone about diversifying your retirement accounts, contact us at[emailprotected]or call (480) 295-7600 to schedule a call with a member of our Wealth Development Team.
