Conduct Due Diligence on Properties

Lofty makes it easy to do due diligence and research on properties before making an investment

Max Ball avatar
Written by Max Ball
Updated over a week ago

All Lofty properties are listed by third party sellers and you are expected to conduct your own due diligence and research on the properties listed on our marketplace.

Besides the information below, websites like Zillow, Trulia, and Redfin are helpful resources as well.

After you click on a property you're interested in, you can view pictures and conduct due diligence on the property by clicking on the different tabs, which include:

  • Details

  • Financials

  • Documents

  • Market
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Let's walk through each of these tabs in more detail.


Details

The Details tab gives a high-level overview of the property.

You can view pictures, bedroom/bathroom count, square footage, property type, and whether the property is occupied or vacant.

The Investment Summary section breaks down the total price of the property as well as the token price and the number of total tokens.

Total Investment = Token Price x Total Tokens

Below that, you can view a Description of the property which typically includes lease terms, renovations, and more.

Underneath the property description is a Google Map so you can see exactly where the property is located, and view the Street View.


Financials

The Financials section breaks down all the financials used to underwrite each investment property.

Let's start with the first set of financials below:

Total Investment Value: the total price of the property after adding up the purchase price and all the fees. This value is divided by 50 to determine the number of available tokens.

Underlying asset price: The price the property is put under contract for by the DAO LLC. This number can increase/decrease over time based on token appreciation / depreciation

Closing costs: Costs paid when transferring ownership from the previous owner to the DAO LLC. These can include closing fees, inspection & appraisal fees, fees for furniture (if property is furnished), and more.

Operating Reserve: Each property has an Operating reserve which is used for any unexpected repairs.


Projected Annual Return: This number is calculated by adding the Projected Appreciation and the Rental Yield together. It is an estimation of the total returns of the property for year 1.

Projected Rental Yield: The projected annual return on capital based on potential Cash Flow (potential Gross Rental Income - projected expenses) once the Operating Reserve is replenished to full and all tenants are paying rent. Projected Rental Yield adjusts dynamically based on the "Starting Price" for the property, which is the lowest current price per token available for the property.

Projected Appreciation: A measure of the estimated increase in value of an asset over one year determined by HouseCanary.

Rental Yield: The projected return on capital based on historical Cash Flow (prior month's Gross Rental Income - prior month's expenses). Click the "Financials" tab for details. Rental Yield adjusts dynamically based on the "Starting Price" for the property, which is the lowest current price per token available for the property. The Rental Yield and Projected Annual Return factor in the Operating Reserve replenishment rate.


Annual gross rents: The rental payments the tenant has agreed to pay for the next year via their lease agreement.

Property taxes: Taxes paid by the owner of a property. It is calculated by a local government where the property is located.

Homeowners insurance: A form of property insurance that covers losses and damages to a property, along with furnishings and other assets in the home. Homeowners insurance also provides liability coverage against accidents in the home or on the property.

Property Management: The oversight of real estate by a third party. Property managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the real estate, from screening tenants to arranging for repairs and maintenance. Owners pay property managers a fee or a percentage of the rent generated by the property.

Annual LLC administration and filing fees: Each Lofty property is owned by a DAO LLC. It costs around $500/year for administration and filing fees for each DAO LLC.

Annual cash flow: The profit the property makes annually.

Annual gross rents - Expenses

Monthly cash flow: The profit the property makes monthly.

(Annual gross rents - Expenses) / 12


In the section above, you can see your projected returns based on the number of tokens you purchase.

Under Projected returns per token you can adjust the three sliders to see your projected returns.


The chart does not take yearly rental increases or vacancies into account.


Documents

All properties have a Documents section where you can review specific documents pertaining to the property.

Click View Documents and you will be taken to a page like the one below:

Once you click on the asset link, you will be able to view all of the documents in Dropbox which you may also download.

All of this information is publicly available to both investors and non-investors.


Market

This section of the property page gives an overview of the market the property is located in along with a historical growth chart for both Rent and Appreciation.


Learning about the market a property is located in is a very important step in due diligence, and we recommend you conduct your own research to see if this is a market you're interested in investing in.

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