Our INVESTMENT Screening Process

Providing Access to a Range of Deals 

Our Investments Team is on the ground across the country, searching for compelling real estate projects from experienced sponsors. We recognize that when it comes to investing, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. That’s why we work to bring a variety of quality investment opportunities to the Crowd Street platform. We take a highly selective approach, with only about 1 in 20 deals we review launched on our platform.1

Rigor and transparency are at the core of our review process. Our experienced team of real estate professionals conducts an extensive screening process for both sponsors and investment opportunities. We then publish a detailed checklist for each offering so investors know exactly what vetting we’ve undertaken as they evaluate the investment opportunity. 

Our deal review process has two key components:

Ian 2
1. SPONSOR SCREENING

Evaluating the firm

Our team conducts a rigorous and objective review of each sponsor firm before they join our platform. This thorough examination aims to ensure we bring only quality offerings from reputable, experienced operators to our investors.

Our multi-layered sponsor screening process includes but is not limited to:

  1. Background check: We conduct in-depth background checks on the sponsor and its principals using third-party vendors and technology.
  2. Sample reporting review: We review a sample quarterly report for all new sponsors, ensuring that the report meets necessary requirements and generally aligns with investor expectations.
  3. Financial vetting: We require sponsors to provide two years of financial statements.
  4. Track record review: We review sponsors’ experience in executing similar business plans to their proposed offering, considering the asset type, asset size, investment profile, and project location.

For each offering, investors can access a downloadable “Sponsor Screening Checklist.” This checklist offers investors direct insight into the due diligence we conducted to evaluate the sponsor.

Raise Capital Page 1

Our team closely evaluates potential sponsors by requesting a range of due diligence materials and conducting in-depth reviews. Below are some of the key documents we review and checks we conduct during our sponsor screening process.

  1. Sponsor Application & Documents

    We collect and review a broad range of information regarding the sponsor’s operations, policies, financials, and history, generally including but not limited to:

    • Company structure, officers, beneficial owners, and history
    • Business operations
    • Historical capital losses
    • Financial health of the sponsor
  2. Background/Public Record Checks

    We conduct detailed background checks on the sponsor and its principals using both third-party and in-house resources, including:

    • CLEAR Background Report
    • FINRA’s BrokerCheck
    • SEC Litigation Search
    • Public Record Searches – CrowdDD, LinkedIn, and Internet searches
  3. Verified Track Record

    We require sponsors to produce a standardized, robust track record of their active and realized projects, spanning a minimum of 15 years or since the firm’s inception date, and make this document available to investors. In cases of a loss of investor capital, we seek an adequate explanation and disclosure of what caused the loss. We also review and assess the financial health of the sponsor’s current active portfolio, including the near-term risk of capital calls and debt service coverage issues.

  4. Anti-Money Laundering (“AML”) Checks

    We conduct Know Your Customer (“KYC”) verification checks on all current Principals, Officers, and beneficial owners with 20% or greater ownership of the Company to verify their identities and help ensure we are not doing business with any restricted persons from the Office of Foreign Asset Control.

  5. Investor and Industry Reference Checks

    We conduct reference checks with two contacts who have invested with or worked alongside the sponsor in one of their offerings in the last two years. 

  6. Quarterly Reporting Review
    We request quarterly report samples from the sponsor to ensure reporting meets acceptable standards and requirements dictated by the executed service agreement.

Are you a sponsor looking to raise capital on the Crowd Street Marketplace?
Contact our Investments Team for more information.

Raise Capital Page 2

2. DEAL SCREENING

Evaluating the property

Crowd Street reviews a range of documentation obtained from the sponsor and third-party sources to validate assumptions in the business plan and gain a deeper understanding of the potential rewards and risks associated with each deal. This review allows us to share  relevant and comprehensive information with investors so they have visibility and clarity into the investment opportunities that we present on our platform. 

Key material we review includes but is not limited to:

  • Financial model / pro forma
  • Market, rent, and sales comparables
  • Offering Memorandum
  • Legal documents
  • Loan documents
  • Rent roll
  • Financial statements

We include comprehensive 'Deal Screening Checklists' on our offering detail pages to give investors a clear view of the due diligence conducted on the deal.

Our team reviews the deal and relevant third-party data in relation to the business plan, seeking to stress test deal assumptions through robust analysis.

To conduct our due diligence, we require sponsors to provide us with a wide range of information and documents, which generally include:

  • Offering Memorandum
  • Model/proforma
  • Market, rent and sales comparables
  • Purchase & Sale Agreement
  • Loan documents
  • Organizational chart
  • Environmental report
  • Insurance quote
  • Legal documents
  • Financial statements
  • Rent roll and major leases
  • Property condition report
  • Property management agreement

For developments, we generally require construction contracts, development agreements, entitlement and zoning reports, and geotechnical reports.

We believe that informed investors are empowered investors. Our team uses the information we collect to create the detail page for each deal so investors can have access to a range of information and conduct their own due diligence before investing in a deal.

Browse The Marketplace

 

1. Based on internal Crowd Street data, as of September 30, 2023.

Updated October 2023. This content was written by an employee of Crowd Street, Inc. ("Crowd Street") and has been prepared solely for informational purposes. The information on this page is not a recommendation of, or solicitation for, the subscription, purchase or sale of any security or offering. The material Crowd Street reviews for sponsor screening and due diligence purposes is provided by the Sponsor of the investment opportunity. Though Crowd Street believes the information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, they make no guarantee, warranty or representation of it. Crowd Street disclaims any liability concerning the material provided by the Sponsor directly, including the data used to satisfy items contained on this page. Crowd Street is not responsible for the accuracy, legality or for the verification of subsequent facts provided by the Sponsor directly.

Investors are advised to conduct their own due diligence and verify the information. All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of money you invest. All investors should consider such factors in consultation with a professional advisor of their choosing when deciding if an investment is appropriate.