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The House Crowd Property Crowdfunding is a platform that allows individuals to invest in property development projects, providing a unique opportunity for people to get involved in real estate investment.
The platform offers a minimum investment of £1,000, making it accessible to a wide range of investors.
Investors can expect to earn returns ranging from 8-12% per annum, depending on the project.
This model allows The House Crowd to offer a more inclusive and diverse investment pool, which can be beneficial for project developers.
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Business Model
The House Crowd's business model is built around crowdfunding, allowing like-minded investors to pool their collective capital to fund various investment loans.
Investors had the option to choose from different investment types, including Secured Peer To Peer Lending, which offered a minimum investment of £1,000 and secured returns of 9.2% p.a.
This approach provided a relatively short-term commitment, making it easier for investors to manage their investments.
Property Development Investment was another option, where investors could expect up to 10% interest over a short loan period, with investments secured against the developer's land and property.
Investors could also opt for Auto-Invest, which allowed them to profit from peer to peer lending without managing an investment portfolio, with investments diversified across secured property development loans and bridging loans.
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Business Model
The House Crowd's business model was built on crowdfunding, allowing like-minded investors to pool their capital to fund various investment loans. This innovative approach gave investors a chance to directly lend money to property owners.
Secured Peer To Peer Lending offered investors a short-term commitment with a minimum investment of £1,000, secured against the borrower's land and property. Average returns were a respectable 9.2% per annum.
Property Development Investment involved financing new build housing projects, also secured against the developer's land and property. Investors could expect up to 10% interest over a relatively short loan period.
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The Auto-Invest option allowed investors to profit from peer to peer lending without managing an investment portfolio. This hands-off approach invested funds across secured property development loans and bridging loans.
Investors could put up to £20,000 a year into the Auto-Invest, earning a tax-free rate of 7% per annum. This diversified investment mitigated risk by spreading funds across a range of loans.
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Auto-Invest and Ifisa
The House Crowd offers an Auto-Invest product that can be held as an Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA). This allows you to invest in P2P lending and get tax-free returns.
You have a generous annual ISA allowance of £20,000, which can be divided among the three types of ISA. You can still have cash and stocks and shares ISAs with other providers, as long as you don't invest more than £20,000 in total.
The House Crowd Auto-Invest product allows you to invest in one of three investment portfolios: Cautious, Balanced, or Bold. Each portfolio has a target return, with the Cautious product aiming for 5%, the Balanced 6%, and the Bold 7%.
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These target rates are not guaranteed, and the riskier the product, the higher the average LTV and the higher the maximum LTV. The higher the LTV, the riskier the loan and the higher the interest rate.
You need a minimum investment of £1,000 and a minimum 12-month term, after which you can withdraw by giving 30 days' notice. Your money is protected by a legal charge secured against the borrower's land/property.
It's possible to transfer another ISA to the House Crowd IFISA free of charge if it's over £5,000, although there's a £50 transfer fee for ISAs valued between £1,000 and £4,999.
Financials
The House Crowd offers a range of investment options, including bonds and loans, with interest rates starting from 4.5% per annum.
Investors can choose from a variety of property development projects, each with its own unique characteristics and potential for returns.
The minimum investment amount is £1,000, making it accessible to a wide range of investors.
Investors can also choose to invest in a property development project, with the option to exit early if the project is sold or refinanced.
The House Crowd's platform charges a management fee of 2% per annum on the loan amount.
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Regulation and Risk
The House Crowd is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority through Prosper Capital, of which it is an appointed representative. This means they're accountable to a governing body that oversees their activities.
As managing director Frazer Fearnhead explained, people's investment is protected by the bricks and mortar value of the property. This provides a tangible asset that can be sold if needed.
If you want your money back, you can either wait for the property to be sold or sell your share to another investor. However, Frazer Fearnhead notes that there's no guarantee you'll find a buyer, but so far, everyone who's wanted to sell has managed to do so within a few days.
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Risk and Regulation
Regulation is a crucial aspect of investing, and it's reassuring to know that some platforms take it seriously.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) oversees many investment platforms, including The House Crowd. It's a well-established regulatory body that aims to protect consumers.
The House Crowd is authorised and regulated by the FCA through Prosper Capital, of which it is an appointed representative. This means they have to follow strict guidelines to ensure investors' money is safe.
As managing director Frazer Fearnhead explained, people's investment is protected by the bricks and mortar value of the property. This means that if you want your money back, you can either wait for the property to be sold or sell your share to another investor.
You might be thinking, "But what if I can't find a buyer?" Frazer Fearnhead said that so far, everyone who has wanted to sell has managed to do so within a few days.
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Three-Week Deadline for Court Submissions
A High Court judge has given The House Crowd investors three weeks to provide information relating to the administrator’s court filings for clarity on distributions.
The deadline for court submissions is quite tight, giving investors just three weeks to gather and submit the necessary information.
This development is part of the ongoing court proceedings, where investors are seeking clarity on distributions.
The House Crowd investors will need to act quickly to meet this deadline and provide the required information to the court.
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P2P Investors to March Against FCA Failures
P2P investors are invited to join a march in London organized by the Transparency Taskforce to protest the City regulator's conduct and failures.
The Transparency Taskforce is behind the march, which aims to highlight the regulator's shortcomings.
Investors from collapsed peer-to-peer lending platforms have been invited to participate in the march.
The march is a response to the City regulator's perceived failures, which have affected many P2P investors.
The Transparency Taskforce is taking a stand against the regulator's conduct, and P2P investors are joining the cause.
Drag On
The administration process can be a lengthy and uncertain time for investors, as seen in the case of The House Crowd. Administrators have admitted that the process won't be complete until February 2024 at the earliest.
This delay can be frustrating for those waiting to see the outcome, and it's essential to be aware of the potential timeline. Investors in The House Crowd have been told to wait another six to 12 months for a resolution.
It's crucial to plan accordingly and consider the potential impact on your investments.
Significant Cost Increases
The House Crowd's administration process is facing significant cost increases, confirmed by the administrators themselves. This is a reality that investors need to be aware of.
The administrators, Quantuma, have confirmed that the cost of House Crowd's administration process will see "unavoidable significant increases". This is a crucial point for investors to consider.
These cost increases are a direct result of the administration process, which is now facing new challenges. It's essential for investors to be informed about these changes.
The latest update from Quantuma highlights the need for investors to be prepared for these increased costs. It's a reminder that investors should always be aware of the potential risks involved.
Competitors
The House Crowd has some notable competitors in the UK property investment space. The top competitor, Bricklane, has received $16.9M in funding and has investors like LocalGlobe and Swordfish Investments.
Bricklane is a property investment platform for consumers, offering a similar service to The House Crowd. CapitalRise, another competitor, has secured $18M in funding and focuses on property lending and investments. They have investors like Revolt Ventures and AT Swiss Ventures.
Here's a list of The House Crowd's closest competitors:
These competitors have varying levels of funding and investor backing, but they all offer similar services to The House Crowd.
Competitors and Alternates
The House Crowd has some tough competition in the property investment and crowdfunding space. The top competitor is Bricklane2014, a London-based company that has secured $16.9M in funding from investors like LocalGlobe and Swordfish Investments.
Bricklane2014 is a property investment platform for consumers, making it a direct rival to The House Crowd. Its Tracxn Score is 53/100, indicating a strong presence in the market.
CapitalRise2015 is another major competitor, with $18M in funding and a Tracxn Score of 51/100. This company focuses on property lending and investments through a crowdfunding platform.
Here's a list of the top 5 competitors to The House Crowd, ranked by their Tracxn Score:
These companies are all vying for a share of the property investment and crowdfunding market.
Dragon's Den
Dragon's Den can be a tough place to secure investment, as seen with The House Crowd's CEO Frazer Fearnhead. He appeared on episode 1 of series 13 and asked for £1,000,000 for 5% equity, but failed to secure any investors.
Sarah Willingham was particularly unimpressed with Fearnhead's pitch, calling it "the most disrespectful pitch from an individual" and stating she was "offended".
Company Status
The House Crowd's administration has been extended once again, with the new end date set for February 2024. This is the latest development in their ongoing situation.
Administrators at Quantuma have taken on the role of overseeing the company's affairs.
Moves Into Liquidation
Moving into liquidation is a serious step for a company. The House Crowd, a property investment platform, has recently made this move after an administration process that lasted over three years.
A creditors' voluntary liquidation is a type of liquidation where the company's directors decide to wind down the business and appoint a liquidator to handle the process. This is the path The House Crowd has chosen.
In this situation, the company is essentially shutting down and selling off its assets to pay off its debts. The administrator, Quantuma, will oversee this process.
Liquidation can be a complex and time-consuming process, but it's often the best option for a company that's struggling to stay afloat.
Extension Period
The House Crowd's administration process has been extended by six months due to the transfer of the stricken firm's ISA Manager status.
This extension is a result of the administrator Quantuma's application, which was filed with Companies House.
The administration process was initially extended, but it has been extended again, with the new end date set for February 2024.
Administrators at Quantuma have filed the necessary documents to reflect this new end date.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the house crowd?
The House Crowd entered administration in February 2021 due to ongoing financial issues, with its end date repeatedly extended by court order.
Who is the CEO of the House crowd?
The CEO of The House Crowd is Frazer Fearnhead, who has a notable appearance on Dragon's Den.
What is property crowdfunding?
Property crowdfunding is a way to pool funds from many investors to buy a property or finance a development project. It allows individuals to contribute a small percentage of the total amount, making property investment more accessible.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_House_Crowd
- https://www.poundsandsense.com/the-house-crowd-my-review-of-this-property-crowdfunding-platform/
- https://tracxn.com/d/companies/the-house-crowd/__bWGys0VVxf4wGuurY54rkJsd_wzCf3fspucSmnvad1A
- https://crowd1795.rssing.com/index.php
- https://pomanda.com/company/07893395/the-house-crowd-limited
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