Origin Investments Review (2023): Real Estate Investing Made Easy?

What do you think of when you hear “real estate“?

Maybe it has to do with all the responsibilities a landlord has to perform. These include answering calls received in the late night hours about the pilot light going out on the hot water tank, collecting rent, and screening potential new tenants.

Maybe it makes you think about how much you worry that your rent checks will stop coming.

You can even consider how much “sweat equity” you’d need to put into a property. Painting walls, restoring sagging porches, or repaving the driveway are all examples of home improvement projects.

Let’s face it. Numerous more obstacles come with keeping your property in good condition.

Fortunately, various platforms for passive real estate investing have emerged to simplify and streamline the investing process.

Origin Investments is a famous crowdfunded real estate marketplace for accredited investors.

Origin Investments is a course that teaches you about real estate investing.

If you’ve read my other articles on real estate investing, you’ll know there are 3 primary ways to invest:

Wholesaling, buy-and-hold, and flipping.

While each has pros and cons, there is a ton of potential for success in investing in real estate.

Real estate has created some of the largest fortunes in world history.

That being said, you should take some time to seriously think about something:

Is now the best time for YOU to get into real estate investing?

Because despite the potential upside, investing in properties or land takes a lot of capital, and is very labor intensive.

That means if you:

1. Have less than 3 hours per day, OR
2. Aren’t sitting on $20K+ in disposable income

This may not be the best time for you to start investing in physical real estate.

Don’t get me wrong, real estate investing can be an amazing way to protect your assets while generating cash – but there’s a time and a place for it.

But there’s good news!

All you need is a system to generate the cash (& free time) you need to be ready for real estate investing.

My preferred method of getting there is by becoming a Digital Landlord

It takes the benefits of real estate investing, but removes many of the barriers (& annoyances), like:

• Small cash flow on properties
• Having to take out debt
• Dealing with repairs and upkeep
• Dealing with tenants

The cool part is that the income is mostly recurring (AKA semi-passive).

You could make anywhere from $2,000-$10,000+ per month doing it.

You can build it as big (or small) as you feel like, without the annoyances I listed above.

If that sounds interesting, you might want to think about using the Digital Rental Method.

Then, you can take the profits and start investing in physical real estate a year or two from now.

If you wanna see what Origin Investments looks like on the inside, keep reading.

Origin Investments Review: An Overview

Origin Investments aims to help accredited investors have passive access to specified real estate markets.

They target anyone with a high net worth because the minimum commitment is $100,000.

Origin puts its own money into projects along with investors, putting their interests in line with yours. Private real estate funds have reasonable and below-average fees compared to the rest of the market.

What Is Origin Investments: A Real Estate Investment Company?

Origin Investments is a commercial real estate investment firm based in the United States that invests in commercial properties across the country. Since it started in 2007, Origin Investments has raised and is currently managing more than $700 million in commercial and multifamily buildings spread throughout eight U.S. regions.

Property values in these markets have a huge potential for exponential growth. Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Houston, and Raleigh are among them.

Origin chose these markets based on several criteria, including:

• Population growth
• Potential job growth
• Increases in the average rent
• Access to public transportation
• Proximity to universities to recruit a trained workforce

Office buildings and multifamily residential real estate units are examples of real estate investment options. They have purchased and managed over 60 homes so far.

Origin purchases real estate without the assistance of a broker. This allows them to save money on broker commissions.

At the same time, as a real estate firm, Origin contributes some funds to the pot. So far, David Scherer and Michael Episcope have co-invested more than $56 million in their deals. As a result, investors’ and Origins’ motivations are matched.

Funds vs. Shares

It’s important to emphasize that Origin investors don’t purchase individual properties; rather, they invest in a fund. A substantial minimum investment of $100,000 to $500,000 might be required.

However, there are no hidden fees, confusing processes, or complicated offers when you sign up with Origin.

Once you specify your initial minimum investment amount, you won’t be surprised because the capital needs are clear from the beginning.

Members of the Origin team have extensive real estate investment experience. The corporation uses this knowledge to locate projects and function as asset managers for all of its funds.

They are also picky about the projects they take on. They may explore over 1,000 agreements in any given year yet accept less than 5% of them.

Transparency

Origin Investments provides comprehensive information on each project housed in their funds since they firmly believe in complete transparency with their investors.

From financial information to its broader investing strategy, Origin is not keeping anything from investors.

To receive updates and information, investors will also participate in monthly webinars on their invested funds.

Investors need access to this kind of behind-the-scenes information, which crowdfunding platforms rarely provide.

You’ll also get access to financial data on every deal the firm has ever purchased as an investor.

This will allow you to thoroughly study the company’s track record since 2007 and determine whether they are a solid investment option for you.

So far, their first two funds have been fairly successful. Many investors would be pleased to see returns of this magnitude, with an IRR of 30% thus far.

Origin Investments Strategy

Origin’s IncomePlus Fund strategy is to buy income-producing real estate with the potential to force property appreciation through renovations and capital enhancements.

The primary concentration is multifamily properties worth $25 million to $75 million. This is an asset class that huge institutions and pension funds underserve.

Furthermore, the fund invests in preferred equity (asset class) possibilities, which have the same protections as a senior lender but provide returns comparable to an equity position.

Origin Investments Fee Structure

In addition to other expenses, Origin charges its investors an annual management fee of 1.25% on their net asset value.

Depending on the fund, these could include an acquisition fee, an administration fee, or other expenses.

They will charge a 2% one-time administration fee if your initial investment is under $250,000.

In addition to this cost, Origin charges a performance fee on its funds. These fees are only charged if the funds return more than a specific chosen level.

The remainder of the returns above the threshold is then paid to Origin.

The Origin IncomePlus Fund charges a 10% performance fee after a 6% preferred return with a 50/50 catch-up.

Investors in the QOZ Fund will pay a 15% performance fee after a 7% preferred return with a 50/50 catch-up.

What Is Net Asset Value?

The net assets are defined as what a firm owns outright, less what it owes. In other words, net asset value is the corporation’s assets (economic resources) less the liabilities (what is owed to someone else).

The principle is the same for persons as net worth.

Because net assets are the monetary value of the corporation, they are nearly identical to shareholders’ equity.

Accredited Investors Only

Remember that to invest with Origin, you must be an accredited investor.

To be an accredited investor, you must meet at least one of the following requirements:

• Earn more than $200,000 per year as an individual or more than $300,000 per year as a couple. This has been true for the last two years. You should also anticipate maintaining your current level of income.
• Have a net worth of more than a million dollars, either alone or jointly with your spouse (excluding the primary residence).
• Alternatively, you must hold a professional financial license, such as Series 7, Series 65, or Series 82.

Origin Investments Vs. REIT

While the commercial real estate funds listed on Origin may appear comparable on the surface, they are not REITs. Origin’s real estate assets differ from standard REITs in key ways:

• REITs are typically established to generate management fees. On the other hand, Origin Investments is structured to generate investment returns for the company and its investment partners.
• Origin’s principals put a lot of money into their own deals. In comparison, very few private REIT managers put significant resources into their vehicles.
• Origin funds are structured as an LLC, implying that any tax benefits (such as depreciation and interest expenditure) are passed on to investors. The tax benefits are captured at the REIT level under a REIT structure. The remainder of the income is taxed at the regular income rate.
• Private REITs usually pay significant commissions to consultants to promote their products. Origin does not pay a commission to a third party to sell its investments. This translates into lower fees for its investors and more money invested in real estate.
• The majority of REIT fees are generated through transactions. Meanwhile, Origin’s fees are paid only after its investor’s profit.
• Origin Investments sends quarterly updates to all investors and is transparent about its investments and processes. Private REITs are not required to give investors the same level of transparency.

Origin Investment Funds

Origins Investments now allows investors to invest in one of two distinct funds. The funds’ investment strategies differ, and they appeal to diverse categories of investors.

IncomePlus Fund

The Origin IncomePlus Fund is an accessible private real estate fund that offers investors consistent income, downside protection, and tax savings.

The fund seeks a total net annual return of 9-11%, with a monthly payout of 0.5% (6% total annually).

Previous closed-end funds did not provide this level of consistent passive income. In these circumstances, Origin Investments investors typically did not get a distribution from the QOZ fund until the property had completed its whole business plan and was sold.

Real Estate Investors received from the QOZ fund their first distribution after the plan was completed. This can take 5 to 10 years to play out in certain circumstances!

The Origin IncomePlus Fund allows you to invest at various moments in time. You can quickly diversify your capital across a high-quality real estate portfolio.

Furthermore, the IncomePlus Fund “buy, fix, and hold” option allows you to stay in for as long as you like rather than being obliged to withdraw when the assets are sold.

The Incomeplus fund requires a minimum commitment of $100,000.

Members of the IncomePlus Fund will receive monthly dividends from Origin. Keep in mind, however, that these distributions are not guaranteed.

Distribution Reinvestment Plan (DRIP)

You have two choices for receiving your distribution. In cash, or Origin Investments will deposit it directly into your bank account.

You can also benefit from compounding returns by enrolling in its DRIP. This technique allows you to use the payout to purchase new units automatically each month. To put it another way, reinvest in the fund.

Qualified Opportunity Zone (QOZ Fund)

The JOBS Act’s Qualified Opportunity Zone (QOZ Fund) program encourages investment in specified localities that need a boost in economic growth.

It offers substantial tax benefits to investors who roll over capital profits from previous assets into a fund that invests in QOZs.

Origin designed this fund’s portfolio to include a mix of new development projects that will provide strong returns even before accounting for the QOZ tax benefits.

After the properties are built, Origin funds will diversify its portfolio into assets that generate continuous cash flow for its investors.

This method requires a $100,000 minimum investment.

The Origin QOZ fund also has the following advantages:

• Tax Exemption: If held for ten years or more, the QOZ Fund will pay no taxes on capital gains received.
• Tax Deferral: Defer your capital gains tax from an earlier investment until 2026.
• Tax Reduction: You can reduce your capital gains taxes by up to 15%.

Can You Make Money With Origin Investments?

Yes, you can!

But…

There’s a lot that comes along with Real Estate Investing that many people struggle with.

Now, don’t get the wrong idea…

It’s not impossible to make money with real estate, but if you’re gonna put in the amount of grueling work to do this business (which, trust me, isn’t easy), you might as well bring in some REAL money while you’re learning the ropes.

The program that helped skyrocket many online businesses to over $40,000+ per month is so simple that making money really does become second nature.

Origin Investments Customer Service

Once you sign up for an account on its website, you can contact an investor relations associate who will be happy to answer any questions you may have as they arise.

When you log in to the Customer Service Portal, you will be provided a link to their email.

As an investor, you can obtain up-to-date account information by logging in to the Origin website 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week.

Investors are also sent thorough asset management information through email at least once a quarter.

Is Origin Investments Legit?

Yes, Origin Investments is legit.

But, when it comes to building a business, you have plenty of options.

And even if you’re dead set on becoming a Real Estate Investor, you’ve got way better options than Origin Investments.

Keep in mind, I don’t get paid to promote any of the programs I review. I personally think Real Estate Investing is a great business model, but you could end up leaving way too much money on the table.

Origin Investments Review: Summary

Origin isn’t for the inexperienced investor, thanks to its excessive investment minimums.

It does, however, cater to more seasoned investors who recognize the advantages of passive income from real estate.

Their track record shows that they have delivered excellent returns for over a decade, which few other crowdfunding platforms can claim.

Origins have demonstrated that their tactics generate consistent returns to investors in both strong and weak real estate markets.

When you invest in Quality Opportunity Zone programs, you become a part of a movement that promotes economic growth in underserved communities.

In exchange, you will benefit from the significant tax advantages this investment opportunity provides and potentially pay no capital gains tax.

Because you will have constant access to your account information, you will track the fund’s progress. You may wish to reinvest your dividends to see your investment increase.

Before you invest in Origin Investments, ask yourself a few things. Are you willing to wait at least five years for your money to grow?

Do you wish to make a multifamily residential real estate investment?

Are you ready to allow others to choose which real estate properties your money will buy and operate?

Origin is worth considering if you answered yes to all of these questions.

Are There Alternatives To Origin Investments?

Yes, there are plenty of other business models to choose from if you want to pursue this making money online. Here are just a few:

• Local Lead Generation
• Digital Real Estate
• SEO
• Real Estate
• Website Building

Is Origin Investments A Scam?

So, time for the $1,000,000 question – is Origin Investments a scam?

No, not technically. You can 100% make money with this program, though it’s not nearly as simple as Origin Investments make it seem.

As with most businesses, there is A LOT of work to be done upfront & no guarantee of you being successful.

Not to mention the profit margins are typically pretty small.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big proponent of front-loading work now, so that you can reap the rewards later.

But if I’m gonna do that, I want the rewards to be HIGH and virtually guaranteed.

I’d rather put in that same 3 months of work (in my spare time) & build a handful of Digital Rental Properties that each produce $500-$2,000 checks every single month afterward (AKA recurring income).

And the cool part is that you can do it in a lot less time than 3-months (I personally did it in my first 2 weeks of using the Digital Rental Method).

Unlike physical real estate, you can do it from anywhere in the world, so it’s a genuine “laptop-lifestyle” business.

All you need is an internet connection.

Some of my friends are Digital Rental Method that run their 6-figure businesses from:

• Camping trips at national parks
• Beachfront in Hawaii
• On the road in a camper van (with a pet pig!)

They focus on living an enjoyable life first, and focus on income second. All thanks to this program. 

They can take weeks or months off, and money keeps rolling in.

Living happily is the top priority.

If the thought of living perpetually at your dream vacation spot interests you, using the Digital Rental Method might be for you!

What Is My #1 Recommendation For Making Money Online In 2022?

I’ve personally tried all of the major online business models:

• I’ve sold fidget spinners through Amazon FBA
• I’ve drop-shipped a toilet bowl putting green on Shopify
• I’ve sold women’s health supplements via Clickbank affiliate marketing

And I made money with all of them, so trust me when I say: there is no “perfect” business model.

It’s worth noting that I FULLY endorse real estate investing as a way to grow wealth, and that’s why I invest my own money in commercial and residential real estate.

That being said, my #1 recommendation for making real money online as a beginner is, hands-down: being a Digital Landlord.

Whether you’re a complete newbie, or you’ve been around the block before but have never had that “big win” to propel you forward, using the Digital Rental Method is for you.

Why?

Time: If you’ve got a spare hour or two each day, you can do this. If you want to drop everything and go all in, you can do this. More time obviously means faster results, but even putting in a few hours per day is enough to see real success.

And because of that flexibility, you don’t need to trade your time for money. Once the income starts, it’s recurring.

That means you can take a month off, travel the country, pursue a passion project, chill on the beach, or charter a boat across the world.

But you can only do that once you’ve created an income stream that doesn’t require YOU to be there all day, every day.

Real estate investing is a FULL-TIME JOB. If you stop finding deals, your money dries up.

Ownership & Control: Unless you’re buying your properties in cash, you don’t technically own the properties – the lender does.

If you miss a single payment, the property can be taken from you.

Why pour your soul into a business that could be taken away from you at the drop of a dime?
With the Digital Rental Method, you literally own all of the assets, which means you have ultimate control.

Ongoing costs: With real estate, profit margins are actually pretty slim. Real wealth is made in owning the assets, and owning A LOT of them.

using the Digital Rental Method, your profit margin is nearly 100%. Watch here to learn how.

Just a reminder: these Digital Rental Properties are worth (at a minimum) $500/mo in semi-passive income. And each time you create another one, your income increases, and the effort put into creating the next property decreases.

Best-case scenario, you have properties bringing in over $3,000+/mo on auto-pilot.

It’s Effectively Copy-Paste: Here’s my favorite part: once you have your first Digital Rental Property up, you can literally copy-paste another version of it and find another willing “renter” in a few days. DOUBLING your income doesn’t get much easier than that…

If you wanted to double your income with real estate investing, you would need twice as many properties, or double your profit margins on each property. And I can guarantee you, that’s a lot harder than a few clicks & a phone call.

Make Money Helping Real People: With the Digital Rental Method, you’re helping solve REAL problems that people are ASKING for help with:

Small local businesses around the world need one thing: customers. Without them, their business would fall apart. If you can provide those customers, they’re going to be really happy – and they’re going to pay you for it.

You’re helping a struggling mother or father put food on the table for their families, put their kids through college, or simply live life a little bit more comfortably.

Having this type of impact on the world is what will help you sleep soundly at night.

So, the rest is up to you. You could keep looking at other opportunities Origin Investments, which might make you money.

You could keep researching and researching for the next few months (or few years), never making a concrete decision.

OR, you can look deep inside, think about those dreams, hopes, & desires, and make the decision to ACTUALLY make it happen, just like it has for thousands of other students before you.

Making a fortune while actually helping real people that need it.

If this sounds like you, click here to see how it all works.