What is a Real Estate Hedge Fund?

Multifamily real estate investing and commercial properties can yield great returns, but these properties have high down payments. The significant barrier to entry blocks out most investors, but real estate hedge funds are an equalizer. These funds make expensive real estate properties with promising potential more accessible to retail investors. This article discusses what real estate hedge funds are and what to consider before getting started.

How Does a Real Estate Hedge Fund Work?

Real estate hedge funds give investors a path to team up for a real estate acquisition. Instead of buying a commercial property alone, you can join other investors who pool their money together. A real estate hedge fund collects the pooled investments and allocates those funds into a property. Investors receive returns through a mix of cash flow and appreciation. Some real estate hedge funds only distribute funds after they sell the acquired property a few years later, while others distribute regular payments equal to a percentage of the monthly rental income.

What is the Main Purpose of a Hedge Fund?

Hedge funds strive to maximize investment returns while minimizing risks. These funds use several hedges to weather market volatility in an attempt to outperform the market. Hedge funds are like mutual funds, but they can engage in riskier assets that enable hedging, such as derivatives. Not every hedge fund incorporates those types of assets in its portfolio. Real estate hedge funds strictly focus on acquiring a property with pooled capital from investors.

Ways to Invest in Real Estate Through Hedge Funds

Hedge funds make it easy for investors to access real estate and other alternative assets. If you want to get started, check out two ways you can get into real estate investing with a hedge fund.

Dedicated Real Estate Hedge Funds

A dedicated real estate hedge fund only gives investors exposure to real estate properties. If you want to own real estate without worrying about stocks and other types of investments, this hedge fund group is for you. These hedge funds use investments to buy additional real estate and reward investors who were part of the initial funding process.

Alternative Asset Hedge Funds

Alternative asset hedge funds let you take a more diverse approach to your portfolio. You can still get exposure to real estate properties without having to manage them, but these hedge funds also acquire other assets. Some alternative asset hedge funds hold positions in wine, startups, art, agriculture and other assets that do not trade on public exchanges.

A diversified portfolio gives you more protection in case one of your assets declines. Putting all of your eggs in one basket is too risky, especially if the basket breaks. Diversification provides more stability. Because most alternative investments do not correlate with the stock market, it’s easier to navigate bear and bull markets with these assets.

Direct Real Estate Investments vs. Hedge Funds

Real estate investing is a common path to wealth, but if this is the first time you’ve heard about real estate hedge funds, you may be wondering whether they beat direct real estate investments. Both investment routes have their pros and cons. The key details are highlighted below. 

Direct real estate investing can provide higher returns than real estate hedge funds. Real estate investors who own their properties get to capitalize on tax breaks and have more control over rent prices. You can use a down payment to acquire a property at less than market value and repeat the process with more properties.

The major downsides with direct real estate investments are the down payment, the work involved and the learning curve. Making a down payment for a multifamily complex or commercial property is very different from buying a single-family home. Commercial mortgages are more complicated, and your down payment may exceed $1 million for some of these properties. Even if you have enough money to make down payments in single-family homes and duplexes, it’s more difficult to diversify when you start out. Portfolio diversification depends on available funds, and if you use most of your funds for a down payment, it’s all or nothing for that property. You can scale out in the future, but it’s harder to diversify in the beginning.

If you buy your own properties, you also have to manage them and learn how to be a good real estate investor. A real estate hedge fund takes care of these elements of real estate investing. Hedge funds research numerous opportunities to find optimal properties, and their professional management teams take care of the property. 

Real estate hedge funds may not generate as high returns as direct real estate investing, but they make it far easier to get started. 

Advantages and Risks of Real Estate Hedge Funds

Before investing in real estate hedge funds there are some advantages and risks to be aware of.

Advantages

• Professional management: Real estate hedge funds are managed by experienced professionals who have the expertise and resources to identify and acquire lucrative real estate opportunities. Investors can benefit from the knowledge and skills of these professionals without having to actively manage the investments themselves.
• Access to private markets: Real estate hedge funds often invest in private real estate markets, which are not easily accessible to individual investors. By investing in a hedge fund, investors can gain exposure to exclusive real estate deals that may offer higher potential returns.
• Potential for higher returns: Real estate investments have the potential to generate attractive returns, especially in markets with strong appreciation and rental income growth. Real estate hedge funds aim to capitalize on these opportunities to deliver above-average returns to their investors.
• Risk management: Real estate hedge funds often employ risk management strategies to mitigate potential downside risks. By utilizing hedging techniques and diversification, hedge funds can help protect investors' capital during market downturns.
• Passive income: Real estate investments, such as rental properties, can generate passive income through rental payments. Investors in real estate hedge funds can benefit from this regular income stream, which can help supplement their overall investment returns. 
• Tax benefits: Real estate investments can offer tax advantages, such as deductions for property expenses and depreciation. Real estate hedge funds may pass on these tax benefits to investors, helping to lower their overall tax liability. 
• Portfolio diversification: Including real estate investments in a hedge fund can provide further diversification benefits to an investor's portfolio. Real estate often has a low correlation with traditional asset classes, such as stocks and bonds, which can help reduce overall portfolio volatility.

Risks

• Lack of liquidity: Real estate hedge funds are often illiquid investments, meaning that investors may not be able to easily sell their shares or withdraw their funds if needed. This lack of liquidity can be a major drawback for investors who may need access to their money quickly.
• High fees: Real estate hedge funds typically charge high management and performance fees, which can eat into investor returns over time. These fees can significantly reduce the overall profitability of the investment, especially in comparison to other lower-cost investment options.
• Limited transparency: Real estate hedge funds may not provide investors with the same level of transparency as other types of investments. This lack of transparency can make it difficult for investors to fully understand where their money is being invested and how it is performing.
• Risk of market fluctuations: Real estate investments, including those made through hedge funds, are subject to market fluctuations and economic downturns. If the real estate market experiences a downturn, investors in a real estate hedge fund may face significant losses.
• Limited diversification: Real estate hedge funds typically focus on a specific sector or geographic region within the real estate market, which can limit investors' overall diversification. This lack of diversification can increase the risk of the investment portfolio and may lead to greater volatility in returns.
• Regulatory and legal challenges: Real estate hedge funds are subject to complex regulatory and legal requirements, which can increase compliance costs and legal risks for investors. This can make it more difficult for investors to navigate the regulatory environment and may lead to potential legal challenges in the future.

Hedging Your Portfolio with Alternative Assets

Alternative assets like real estate increase diversification and can act as hedges during stock market volatility. Real estate hedge funds make it easy to get started in real estate, and you won’t have to worry about putting your life savings into the down payment for a single asset. 

Frequently Asked Questions