Groundfloor Investment: Can You Really Achieve 10% Returns?

Jul 31, 2024 By Triston Martin

Real estate debt investments are the main focus of the investing technology platform Groundfloor. Through the website, investors and borrowers in need of short-term real estate loans may interact, and after funding the loans, investors get their money back with interest.

Groundfloor was founded in 2013 and has had good reviews of Groundfloor ever since. It has expanded significantly, with over 230,000 registered customers and over $500 million in loan repayments. Groundfloor has lent more than $4,100 to developers and other building projects and made more than $1 billion in investments.

Groundfloor Services And Products

Investment Focus and Products

Many Groundfloor investing reviews highlight investing in fractional real estate loans for 1218 months. The company offers LROs and Notes. Limited Recourse Obligations (LROs) are real estate-backed financial products with 8%15% returns.

Normal and rolled Notes are 30-, 90-, or 12-month loans with a bond-like repayment schedule. Groundfloor loans that have yet to be funded as LROs on its platform provide their security. Although notes lessen the risk, they earn less than LROs (5.75% vs. 7.50%).

Auto Investor Account

Creating passive income with an Auto Investors Account is a set-it-and-forget kind of deal. The robo-advisor establishes a diverse portfolio of assets with a 10% historical return by automatically investing in hundreds of high-yield loans as soon as you deposit money into your account.

According to Groundfloor investing reviews, when your previous loans are repaid, you will automatically be reinvested in other loans. So, payments may take longer, although they may begin as soon as three months from now.

Mobile Investing

Investing in various initiatives is simple using Groundfloor's mobile app. The app provides access to an information dashboard, savings targets, and automatic reinvesting tools to assist you in projecting future balances.

According to many reviews of Groundfloor, you can monitor your investments, interest that has accumulated, annualized returns, and the overall number of loans you have invested in by using the Portfolio Summary function. You may see your average realized return, interest received, and return capital using the Repayment Breakdown function.

Self-Directed IRA

Rollover IRAs, Roth IRAs, SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, conventional IRAs, and LROs are all available for investment at Groundfloor. Forge Trust is managing Groundfloor's IRA. Moreover, Groundfloor's auto-investing function distributes your funds across several real estate ventures, yielding investment yields varying from 7% to 14%. Also, up until December 2024, Groundfloor is waiving all IRA costs.

Groundfloor For Borrowers

Loans between $75,000 and $750,000 have 2% to 4.5% interest rates, according to our Groundfloor US review. Your firm or LLC must be active in borrowing money. Moreover, the Groundfloor website states that only single-family residential homes (1-4 units) in states where Groundfloor actively lends are eligible. Some other considerations include:

  • Must have $50,000 as the minimum valuation of the property.
  • Your credit score must be higher than 640.
  • Groundfloor includes mortgage points in closing expenses; interest may be postponed until the loan is repaid.
  • Depending on your competence, you may qualify for up to 70% loan-to-after-repair value (ARV).

Advantages of Groundfloor

No Investor Fees

Groundfloor charges no investor fees, which usually cover account, withdrawal, and investment management fees. Instead, the site makes money from borrower fees. This fee structure eliminates additional costs, optimizing investment benefits. Since Groundfloor doesn't impose fees, real estate loan investments are more accessible and profitable for investors.

Open to All Investors

Groundfloor allows non-accredited investors, unlike many real estate crowdfunding companies. Real estate loan investments are common and accessible to all financial backgrounds. The platform democratizes real estate investing by allowing more consumers to diversify their portfolios and use real estate loans.

10% Annual Return

From this Groundfloor US review, you will understand how Groundfloor investors have averaged 10% yearly returns. While past performance does not guarantee future success, it is notable. Groundfloor has a history of consistent earnings.

It is a popular alternative for real estate loan investors since it provides constant earnings over time. According to its past performance, the platform is a well-managed venture with growth and stability potential.

Low Minimum Investment

With a minimal initial deposit of $10 and an investment requirement of $1 per loan, Groundfloor offers a low entrance hurdle. Due to this low entry barrier, new investors may easily begin investing without requiring a significant quantity of funds.

The platform's modest minimums encourage small-scale investors to engage in real estate loans, enabling them to expand their investment portfolios progressively. This accessibility offers new investors a straightforward and cost-effective means of breaking into the real estate market, which is very advantageous.

Disadvantages of Groundfloor

No Early Withdrawal

Investment in groundfloor real estate loans requires commitment since there is no early redemption. The loan may mature in six to eighteen months before investors get their money. If you need your money before the loan time ends, this liquidity issue may be a problem. Moreover, it's crucial to consider liquidity needs while investing since the inability to withdraw money early means investors must commit their cash for the loan duration.

Risk of Loan Default

According to Groundfloor investing reviews, investors risk losing all or most of their investments if borrowers fail. Financial issues that prohibit loan repayment may impact investments adversely. Real estate finance is risky; this is why Groundfloor real estate investors should consider this risk.

Fewer Education Resources

Groundfloor offers limited teaching resources, including a blog and FAQ. These resources are shallower than those provided by other sites that offer in-depth courses, live training, and video tutorials.

This limitation may hurt new investors who require more guidance and information to make smart investments. Also, due to the need for robust educational offerings, investors may need to seek additional knowledge and education to comprehend and navigate real estate loan investments.

Final Verdict

According to our research on Groundfloor investing reviews, the platform is beneficial as it introduces some speculative income assets into your portfolio. Although Groundfloor has a simple approach to entering the real estate market, the typical retail investor would want to avoid doing this.

Related articles