Thanks to the fast-paced, constantly evolving real estate landscape that we’re currently living through, the genuinely savvy investors out there need to be more proactive than ever before. They can’t just wait for trends to find them. They need to go out and discover new ones before anyone else can, and harnessing the power of Proptech (Property Technology) and Fintech (Financial Technology) is a big part of how they can do it. AI in real estate is one example of this concept in action, but there are many more.
Not only does this help them understand and capitalize on trends and patterns they otherwise may have missed, but it also helps them carve out a legitimately competitive edge in a crowded marketplace. Overall, there are five critical strategies to keep in mind for modern investors looking to make the most out of these innovative tools.
1. Data-Driven Investment
Yes, a certain amount of “luck” is involved in real estate success because you often need to be in the right place at the right time. It’s also true that after many years of experience, gut instinct and intuition can help. But most successful real estate investors would agree that the key to everything involves making the wisest decision you can based on the information you have available at the moment.
That’s why data-driven investment is crucial for modern investors.
Proptech, in particular, offers assets to vast amounts of data pertaining to nearly every facet of a real estate transaction or market. This helps investors make informed decisions based on cold, hard facts. You’re not guessing or hoping – you know, because you’re paying attention to what all that data is trying to tell you.
Leveraging data analytics and AI in real estate tools can also help identify lucrative investment opportunities so that you can get there before anyone else can. It can help you forecast market trends, capitalize on them, and mitigate risk.
2. Crowdfunding Platforms
Over the last decade, platforms like GoFundMe and Kickstarter have made crowdfunding a standard part of many of our lives. People in entertainment do it all the time. If you want to write a book and can’t get a major publisher to pay you to bring it to life, cut it out and go right to your audience. If the audience is big enough and willing to pay in advance, they can do so and help make your writing a reality.
Thanks to many Fintech innovations, the same concept has a foothold in real estate. Crowdfunding platforms have democratized real estate investing, allowing new and seasoned investors to diversify their portfolios by participating in fractional ownership properties. The short-term benefit is that these often come with a lower capital requirement than traditional transactions.
The long-term benefit is that if you own 100% of a single property, you accept 100% of the risk if that investment fails. If you own 10% of 10 different properties, you’re much less susceptible to market fluctuations because it’s unlikely all of those properties would decline in value at once.
Without the proper foundation of financial technology, this platform type would not be possible. Not only is it easier than ever for even people new to real estate investing to take advantage of, but it’s also growing more lucrative all the time.
3. Smart Property Management
Many modern investors are finding great success in utilizing Proptech solutions for more efficient property management than ever before. For example, the Internet of Things (IoT) can be a great way to collect actionable real-time information about a property, even when you’re not physically there. The sensors embedded in IoT devices and automation can help optimize maintenance across the board. Rather than waiting for something to break so you can fix it, you can prevent it from breaking in the first place.
Smart property management also leads to reduced operational costs, thanks to putting both tenants and owners in a position to make more energy-conscious decisions. It also helps to enhance tenant experiences, which reduces turnover and keeps properties filled for longer.
4. Real-Time Financing Solutions
Financial technology has also streamlined the financing process thanks to the increased prominence of online mortgage lenders and peer-to-peer lending platforms. Investors can now secure competitive loans faster than ever, allowing them to acquire properties just as efficiently. It eliminates one of the primary reasons investors were forced to watch opportunities pass them by in the past – the time required to get the appropriate financing up and running.
5. Blockchain for Transparency
Finally, we arrive at the concept of the blockchain. This term has grown in use recently thanks to its association with cryptocurrency, but many people don’t realize it’s also playing an essential role in real estate.
Blockchain technology is used specifically to enhance transparency and security in real estate transactions of all shapes and sizes. Smart contracts can allow for automation, for example, allowing the process to be completed far faster than ever before. The level of transparency the blockchain offers significantly reduces fraud risks for buyers and sellers.
Technology is Creating New Potential for Investors
These are just a few of the many impressive ways modern investors can leverage the full potential of Proptech and Fintech to their advantage. As the landscape continues to evolve and as technology advances, there will continue to be more.
But by capitalizing on these innovations today, investors put them in a better position to successfully navigate the real estate market tomorrow. They’ll be able to do so in a more efficient and accurate way. These lead to a far more profitable experience than would have otherwise been possible, which in and of itself is the most important advantage of all.