The ways in which people can invest in real estate is expanding as owners and developers increasingly are using crowdfunding to attract investors. Crowd Funding in Commercial Real Estate will be the topic of conversation at the February 10 luncheon of the Association of Industrial Real Estate Brokers—AIRE. The meeting will explore the appeal and success of crowdfunding techniques to date.
AIRE kicks off the year with the first of six luncheon programs at Café La Cave, 2777 Mannheim Road in Des Plaines. This marks a change from last year when the programs were held at the Rosewood in Rosemont.
Headlining the Crowd Funding in Commercial Real Estate panel will be Scott McKibben and Kevin Brennan of Brennan Investments. The firm has used crowdfunding in two different investments and attracted investors it otherwise may not have reached. The firm is currently working on its third and fourth crowdfunding deals.
Two attorneys will balance out the discussion and provide insights on additional issues and trends associated with crowdfunding, including legal regulations. They are Anthony Zeoli, Ginsberg Jacobs LLC, and David Brown, Nixon Peabody. The panel will be moderated by John Picchiotti of NAI Hiffman.
In 2013 the use of crowdfunding to raise equity increased by more than 110 percent. Industry experts predict that the use of crowd funding will continue to increase as success stories are told and owners/developers better understand and navigate the issues associated with this financial tool.
The February luncheon program will take place from 11:30 to just after 1 pm on Tuesday, February 10 at Café La Cave in Des Plaines. Broker and associate members are asked to pre-register to ensure there is a reserved spot for the luncheon and round-up program. Reservations can be made by calling the Association’s administrative offices at 630-510-4554.
