Estateguru Review 2024
Estateguru is a European peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform that provides investors with an opportunity to invest in property-backed loans. The platform was founded in 2014 and has since facilitated loans worth over €796 million across eight different countries. In this review, we will analyze Estateguru's features, statistics, and investor requirements to determine whether it's a worthwhile investment opportunity.
Looking to build your wealth?
With Estateguru, you can invest in thousands of loans to businesses across Europe and grow a diversified portfolio. Rest easy knowing your investments are backed by a mortgage on a real estate property.
- Stable returns on secured loans
- Built-in diversification of portfolio
- Short-term results and early exit options
- Easy and intuitive investment platform
- Join an Investor Community of over 150 000
Investments calculator
How it Works
Platform connects property developers with investors looking to fund short-term loans. Investors can invest in individual loans or use the auto-invest feature to automatically invest in loans that meet their criteria. Loans typically have a loan term of 12-36 months, and the average return rate on investments is 10.74%.
In Numbers
Estateguru's loan book statistics show that the platform's default rate is industry-leading, and the recovery period for defaulted loans is relatively short. The loan portfolio is diverse, with loans funded across eight different countries. The average loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is 59.79%, and the average loan size is €134,783.
Loan Portfolio
Historical loans by country
Pros and Cons
Investing on EstateGuru has its advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the most notable ones:
Pros
High returns: EstateGuru offers average returns of 10.74%, which are much higher than traditional savings accounts and other low-risk investments.
Diversification: Investors can spread their funds across multiple loans, properties, and regions, reducing the risk of loss.
Transparency: Platform provides detailed information about each loan, including the borrower's creditworthiness, property valuation, loan-to-value ratio, and repayment schedule.
Secured loans: All loans on EstateGuru are secured by property collateral, reducing the risk of default and loss.
Short-term loans: Most loans on EstateGuru have a maximum term of 24 months, allowing investors to quickly reinvest their funds and earn compound interest.
Automated Investment Strategies: EstateGuru offers two automated investment strategies that can help investors keep their portfolios growing and ensure they don't miss out on loans in the primary market.
Referral Bonus: 0,5% bonus on all funded primary market investments done during first 90 days after account activation.
Cons
Risk: Like any investment, investing on EstateGuru carries risks, including the possibility of default, loss of principal, and fluctuations in property values.
Illiquidity: Unlike stocks and bonds, property-backed loans on EstateGuru cannot be easily traded or sold on the secondary market, making it difficult to withdraw funds before the loan term ends.
Limited availability: EstateGuru only offers property-backed loans in a few countries, limiting the investment opportunities for some investors.
No guarantee: There is no guarantee that investors will receive all of their funds back in the event of a default.
No suitable for short-term investments: EstateGuru's loans have a minimum term of 6 months, and there is a 35% early exit fee for investors who want to sell their loan parts before the end of the term.
Inactive account fee: 2.5€/monthly.
Limited secondary market liquidity: 2% fee on all loan parts sold.
Withdrawal fee: €1 for all transactions.
High default rate in some markets: Germany and Finland.
User Requirements
To start investing on EstateGuru, you need to meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have a bank account in the European Union or Switzerland.
- Complete a KYC (Know Your Customer) process, which involves providing personal information and documentation such as a passport or ID card.
Important!
You don't have a bank account yet? You can consider opening a free Revolut or Wise bank account, which are recommended by EstateGuru. The transfer of funds usually takes no longer than one or two days. For non-European investors, you can use a Wise card to invest in EstateGuru. However, note that you need to have your IBAN to be eligible to register on EstateGuru.
Once the KYC process is complete, you can deposit funds into your EstateGuru account via bank transfer or credit card. The minimum investment amount is €50, and there is no maximum investment limit.
You can invest in individual loans or use the auto-invest feature to automatically invest in loans that meet your criteria. To use the auto-invest feature, you must set your investment criteria, such as loan type, loan term, and interest rate. The auto-invest feature will then automatically invest in loans that match your criteria.
Risk and Return
Investing always involves risk, and it's important to understand the risks involved before committing your money. In this section, we'll explore the risks and potential returns of investing in EstateGuru.
Secured Investments
One of the biggest advantages of investing on EstateGuru is that your investments are secured by a mortgage. This protection scheme is much more valuable than any buyback guarantee found on other peer-to-peer lending platforms.
While a first-rank mortgage often backs your investments, there is no 100% guarantee that you won't experience a loss at some point. Investing in high-yielding loans is not like putting your money in your savings account.
Due Diligence
EstateGuru takes great care to evaluate the profitability of every real estate deal before listing it on the platform. The risk team analyzes the borrower's "exit plan" and considers whether the borrower can repay the loan with the accrued interest. The platform also requires a valuation report from certified real estate valuators for every project listed.
Risk Management
EstateGuru has a professional risk management process, which includes a strict vetting process for every loan listed on the platform. Multiple team members review all the collected documents before the credit risk committee approves the loan. This strict vetting process is also why EstateGuru has a good track record in loan recoveries.
Assess the Risk Yourself
If you are cautious about money, you may want to inspect every project before investing manually. It's not required, but it's good practice for those ready to become serious about investing on EstateGuru.
Return
EstateGuru offers up to a 12% (in this days you can find 13%) interest rate on secured loans. This rate is attractive compared to other investment opportunities, but it's important to remember that higher returns often come with higher risks.
Usability
I have been using Estateguru since January 2020 and have had 26 repaid loans with a total income of €144.38. Letting your money work for you when you don't need it is a smart decision, especially when the interest rate in a bank account is minimal. During the period when I had an active Automated Investment Strategy, it worked incredibly well, with a maximum interest rate of 11.08% in the best months.
However, my perception of the riskiness of investing through EstateGuru changed in March 2022 due to the conflict in Ukraine. As a result, I stopped my Automated Investment Strategy, sold my entire portfolio on the secondary market, and invested the proceeds in a savings account and some interesting stock titles. However, I plan to gradually switch back to EstateGuru and reactivate my automated investment strategy.
You can see my current portfolio after several months of inactivity here:
Referral Bonus
If you refer a friend to Estateguru using your unique referral link and they invest in a primary market project that reaches funded status, both you and your friend will receive a 0.5% bonus on all funded primary market investments made during the first 90 days after their account activation.
In addition, there are milestone rewards for the number of friends you refer:
- Level 1: Get €10 investment credit after your friend makes their first investment on the Primary Market.
- Level 2: Invite two investors and receive another €10 investment credit, as well as a "No fee for the withdrawals for 90 days" bonus.
- Level 3: Invite three investors and receive an extra €30 investment credit. Total of €50 investment credit for the first three levels.
- Level 4: Invite four investors and receive a free Estateguru T-shirt when they start investing on the platform (free shipping).
- Level 5: Invite five investors and receive €5 investment credit for every new investor you refer for the next 90 days. This special reward becomes active from the fifth invited investor.
- Level 6: Invite six investors and receive a free Estateguru Hoodie when they start investing on the platform (free shipping).
- Level 7: Invite ten investors and receive an extra €100 investment credit.
- Level 8: Invite fifteen investors and receive no fee for Secondary Market sales for 90 days.
- Level 9: Invite twenty investors and receive a 0.75% cashback bonus. The investors you referred will receive a 0.5% cashback bonus on the amount they invest during their first 90 days on the platform.
- Level 10: Invite twenty-five investors and receive €10 investment credit for every new investor you refer for the next 90 days. If you are already receiving a Level 5 special award, you will receive €10 instead of €5 for each new investor.
Your referral link can be found on your account page, and anyone who uses it to register and invest will be designated as your referral.
Summary
After conducting a thorough review of EstateGuru, we found that the platform offers legitimate investment opportunities backed by mortgages, which provides added security for investors. However, there have been some concerns regarding the platform's risk assessment in Germany, which could impact investor returns.
Additionally, EstateGuru has a professional debt collection process in place, which could help to mitigate potential losses. Overall, EstateGuru could be a viable option for investors looking to diversify their portfolio with real estate investments, but caution is advised when considering the platform.
In conclusion, if you're interested in becoming a real estate investor, sign up on EstateGuru and take advantage of the 0.5% cashback bonus. The signup process is quick and easy, taking only 2 minutes.
If you're ready to start earning passive income with Estateguru, sign up now using my referral link. Not only will you benefit from the platform's features, but you'll also be supporting me in creating more detailed content on other platforms I use. Thank you in advance for your support!