CrowdStreet's Brent Hieggelke is joined by one of our investors, Sukhjit Brar, to hear his story of how he got started in commercial real estate investing. Sukhjit also discusses the types of asset classes he's been keeping an eye on, why projects with a social impact are important to him, and how he's utilized the CrowdStreet platform to further educate himself on real estate investing.
Brent Hieggelke, Chief Marketing Officer
CrowdStreet
CrowdStreet
Brent is a high-growth tech marketing executive focused on start-up and early category innovators and disrupters. He is a seasoned evangelist, and public speaker across a wide-range of topics.
He is a former CMO of several leading SaaS companies such as Urban Airship (mobile), Brandlive (video), Webtrends (data and analytics) and Touch Clarity (AI, machine learning), which sold to Omniture. In 2009, Brent co-founded a real estate start-up, Second Porch, which built the first sharing vacation rental site and ultimately exited to HomeAway, now Expedia. Brent has keynoted and led panels at global events like SXSW, Mobile World Congress, Cannes Lions, Advertising Week, Adtech, and hundreds of other conferences. Brent has been featured or quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Advertising Age, and hundreds of other publications.
Brent holds a BA in Economics with honors from the University of Chicago.
Brent 00:00:04
Hello everyone. I'm Brent Hieggelke, Chief Marketing Officer at CrowdStreet, and excited to bring you another addition of StreetBeats where we're trying to bring the people who are involved in the community at CrowdStreet to life. And today, I'm really excited because we're, we get to talk to another investor and hear his story, his journey, and what he's thinking about as he contemplates his next online real estate investing move. So I'd like to bring, uh, Sukhjit Brar to the audience. Uh, Sukhjit, why don't you, uh, tell us a little bit about yourself?
Sukhjit 00:00:39
Yes, hi. Thank you for having me here. And, uh, I'm excited to be part of the CrowdStreet community, and I did listen to other street beats these videos, which were helpful for me to make decisions. So, um, it's time for me to give back and trying to just, um, tell my story to the community here at Crowd Street. So, uh, again, I'm Sukhjit Brar. I'm in California in Fresno, central Wellie. Um, I joined Crowd Street in summer last year during the pandemic year, is what I'm gonna call it. And, um, we all had difficult times during the pandemic year, but what it gave us, gave us is, uh, time to kind of sit back and look at all the priorities. So during the in investments, uh, that I was making, I tried to look into something for diversification and came across crowdfunding. The Crowd Street, um, has stood out to me for multiple marketplace opportunities that were presented. So, uh, over in next, um, two months from the time I joined, I made some, um, investments, uh, which I'm happy about. Um, I'm still waiting as they are in different phases of development and so on. Um, so yes, so, uh, very different avenue. Uh, and it's new for me as in commercial real estate, so thank you, Brent.
Brent 00:02:07
Yeah. Yeah. So what, uh, do you mind telling us, telling us a little bit about what, uh, asset classes you invested in last year?
Sukhjit 00:02:14
Yes. Um, so the most common, which I really found very good to do is the multi-family. And the reason is, uh, when I'm investing, I'm also trying to have a responsibility to have social cause I'm looking for some environmental impact. So with the homes that now are in great need during and after pandemic, uh, with we all are wanting to move out of some congested and busy areas, and we want to move to suburbs, and there is a huge housing need in the country, we know that. So, um, as I'm investing, I'm seeing if it can help with multi-family, help other people, uh, get into these homes. And again, it's, it's a business, although, but also have some responsibilities. So I feel good about it. So that was my top one class. Also, uh, important to know that this is one of the most common investment opportunities that you see in commercial real real estate. Um, my second class, which has been my interest that I also did was industrial warehouses, um, with the rise of e-commerce, um, you know, think about Amazon and all online retails. Um, so the warehouse demand has gone up and as I reviewed and researched that I think this is can is going to stay. Uh, we are now used to online shopping and I think the trend will continue to grow. So these two classes been really important on my
Brent 00:03:42
List. Yeah, that, that's great. I, I love that you have like the social lens to, uh, your investing. I think that's really, uh, so really compelling to many investors today as they think about where they deploy their own assets and, uh, resources. So that's, uh, that's commendable. Uh, how has your experience been since you made those investments? You know, what, uh, you know, it's, I know it's very, it's very early in your life cycle, but, uh, how have you found the experience since then? Overall?
Sukhjit 00:04:12
Yeah, I'm really liking the updates that I get from the sponsors, um, every so often. So, uh, it's a timely fashion. So everybody, every sponsor has a schedule, so I'm liking that. I'm not chasing around for any updates. I'm getting an email with updates in there. And even some of the sponsors have put in some pictures, uh, to the next level they're taking is putting in live cameras around those developmental projects, which is even way better. You don't have to travel anywhere and watch as the investments kind of materialize and actually come into existence. So, so far great.
Brent 00:04:50
Yeah, no, we, we definitely know the updates are very popular and, uh, glad, glad to hear you're, you're getting those and, and reading 'em and paying attention. So that's, that's very, very wise. So now, uh, we're in 2021, how are you, you know, looking at the market, are you still planning on making more investments this year? What, what kinds of thoughts do you have about this year?
Sukhjit 00:05:14
Yeah, I do still plan to make some investments this year. I'm gonna just wait to see how the stimulus plays out, how the hotel industry and how are we gonna travel or not, or how much. So I'm, I'm wanting to wait till the, maybe the, uh, second quarter of this year, so where we will have better numbers to look at. And then, um, I mean, it's unfortunate the hotel industry, the hospitality industry is really beaten down. Um, but it's also sometimes opportunities to rethink and revisit and, you know, um, so those opportunities, I'm waiting to see, uh, what Crowd Street brings on the marketplace. Um, so yes, that would be another one. Besides that, there are are a few states which are seeing, uh, which are seen as hot markets. And we know people are moving from east coast and west coast to some of the southern states, Midwest, and some states are kind of doing better than the others. So it, it is also gonna be a location based, um, that I'm gonna be looking at.
Brent 00:06:17
Yeah, well that's very timely because we're publishing our best places to invest for the first time ever. Uh, so you and I spoke a little bit about yesterday when we were getting acquainted and, uh, that is, that is now out in the marketplace, um, as the time of this publishing of the street beats. So we're definitely trying to, uh, give investors like you even more resources and insight into what we're thinking as our investments team. You know, reviews, obviously, they review many more deals than you actually see live on the marketplace because we, uh, you know, we review them and then some, some of the deals just aren't. Right. Uh, you and I were talking about, you know, the, your, your perspective of, you know, as we review deals and, and our investments team go through that and then put it out there and then kind of your point of view of, of then what you know, then what's your, what's your sort of responsibility to go then and look at it? Um, you wanna talk a little bit about that?
Sukhjit 00:07:16
Absolutely. So the first thing is, as me being not a primary realtor or in this area, so more like an investor. So I'm kind of counting on a third party, like Crowd Street itself, which is kind of reviewing these deals with due diligence and they have reviewed the numbers and looked at the experience of the sponsor. So that gives me, it puts me at ease. And when I look at the numbers which are presented by the CrowdStreet, it starts making sense. And then some, some of those deals gonna make more sense to me and why I would choose one over the other. So a lot of work behind the scene is being done by your platform, which I, as an investor really appreciate. Um, on top of it also, you brought up the resources that are on CrowdStreet. I must say that they are very helpful. Um, uh, sometimes learning about simple definitions, what is I are, are, so some of those simple things, it's, um, the platform, uh, gives this marketplace, but also educational piece, which I think, um, puts you, uh, above and beyond other platforms. And that's why I'm with CrowdStreet.
Brent 00:08:29
That's great. Well, it sounds like you're, for somebody who's been involved less than a year, have you've really, you know, kind of dove in and, uh, been really active and, uh, made some good investments and, uh, have learned quite a bit along the way as well. So, uh, any other thoughts about this year and what you're excited about?
Sukhjit 00:08:51
Um, this pandemic has affected all of us. So, uh, whenever, uh, uh, stressed whenever and something like this happens, which, which takes a toll on the community, we always rise as humans. So I believe in something positive coming out of it. It's unfortunate how the pandemic has, people have lost lives, you know, but the human beings, we have to stay resilient and we will be, and I believe we will have opportunities. So, um, I, I personally think that I'm, when I'm investing, I'm looking for environmental impacts, social impacts, and I think much of the community on Crowd Street and VA investors and sponsors are also doing their part of it, and that's the right thing to do. So definitely this year, um, I'm hoping, and I'm gonna stay positive that it's gonna be good for all of us, and we hope so. Uh, with the vaccine in place, we can just hope that it's gonna be really, really good.
Brent 00:09:50
That's great. Well, thank you for those, uh, optimistic words, so I'm sure everybody, uh, you know, can't get enough of hearing that. So, uh, Soji, I've really enjoyed the conversation. I've enjoyed getting to know you, uh, really appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to share your story, both with me and the CrowdStreet community. So, uh, look forward to our next conversation and until then, we'll see you on the Cross street marketplace.
Sukhjit 00:10:16
Thank you, Brent. And thank you all for watching this.
Hello everyone. I'm Brent Hieggelke, Chief Marketing Officer at CrowdStreet, and excited to bring you another addition of StreetBeats where we're trying to bring the people who are involved in the community at CrowdStreet to life. And today, I'm really excited because we're, we get to talk to another investor and hear his story, his journey, and what he's thinking about as he contemplates his next online real estate investing move. So I'd like to bring, uh, Sukhjit Brar to the audience. Uh, Sukhjit, why don't you, uh, tell us a little bit about yourself?
Sukhjit 00:00:39
Yes, hi. Thank you for having me here. And, uh, I'm excited to be part of the CrowdStreet community, and I did listen to other street beats these videos, which were helpful for me to make decisions. So, um, it's time for me to give back and trying to just, um, tell my story to the community here at Crowd Street. So, uh, again, I'm Sukhjit Brar. I'm in California in Fresno, central Wellie. Um, I joined Crowd Street in summer last year during the pandemic year, is what I'm gonna call it. And, um, we all had difficult times during the pandemic year, but what it gave us, gave us is, uh, time to kind of sit back and look at all the priorities. So during the in investments, uh, that I was making, I tried to look into something for diversification and came across crowdfunding. The Crowd Street, um, has stood out to me for multiple marketplace opportunities that were presented. So, uh, over in next, um, two months from the time I joined, I made some, um, investments, uh, which I'm happy about. Um, I'm still waiting as they are in different phases of development and so on. Um, so yes, so, uh, very different avenue. Uh, and it's new for me as in commercial real estate, so thank you, Brent.
Brent 00:02:07
Yeah. Yeah. So what, uh, do you mind telling us, telling us a little bit about what, uh, asset classes you invested in last year?
Sukhjit 00:02:14
Yes. Um, so the most common, which I really found very good to do is the multi-family. And the reason is, uh, when I'm investing, I'm also trying to have a responsibility to have social cause I'm looking for some environmental impact. So with the homes that now are in great need during and after pandemic, uh, with we all are wanting to move out of some congested and busy areas, and we want to move to suburbs, and there is a huge housing need in the country, we know that. So, um, as I'm investing, I'm seeing if it can help with multi-family, help other people, uh, get into these homes. And again, it's, it's a business, although, but also have some responsibilities. So I feel good about it. So that was my top one class. Also, uh, important to know that this is one of the most common investment opportunities that you see in commercial real real estate. Um, my second class, which has been my interest that I also did was industrial warehouses, um, with the rise of e-commerce, um, you know, think about Amazon and all online retails. Um, so the warehouse demand has gone up and as I reviewed and researched that I think this is can is going to stay. Uh, we are now used to online shopping and I think the trend will continue to grow. So these two classes been really important on my
Brent 00:03:42
List. Yeah, that, that's great. I, I love that you have like the social lens to, uh, your investing. I think that's really, uh, so really compelling to many investors today as they think about where they deploy their own assets and, uh, resources. So that's, uh, that's commendable. Uh, how has your experience been since you made those investments? You know, what, uh, you know, it's, I know it's very, it's very early in your life cycle, but, uh, how have you found the experience since then? Overall?
Sukhjit 00:04:12
Yeah, I'm really liking the updates that I get from the sponsors, um, every so often. So, uh, it's a timely fashion. So everybody, every sponsor has a schedule, so I'm liking that. I'm not chasing around for any updates. I'm getting an email with updates in there. And even some of the sponsors have put in some pictures, uh, to the next level they're taking is putting in live cameras around those developmental projects, which is even way better. You don't have to travel anywhere and watch as the investments kind of materialize and actually come into existence. So, so far great.
Brent 00:04:50
Yeah, no, we, we definitely know the updates are very popular and, uh, glad, glad to hear you're, you're getting those and, and reading 'em and paying attention. So that's, that's very, very wise. So now, uh, we're in 2021, how are you, you know, looking at the market, are you still planning on making more investments this year? What, what kinds of thoughts do you have about this year?
Sukhjit 00:05:14
Yeah, I do still plan to make some investments this year. I'm gonna just wait to see how the stimulus plays out, how the hotel industry and how are we gonna travel or not, or how much. So I'm, I'm wanting to wait till the, maybe the, uh, second quarter of this year, so where we will have better numbers to look at. And then, um, I mean, it's unfortunate the hotel industry, the hospitality industry is really beaten down. Um, but it's also sometimes opportunities to rethink and revisit and, you know, um, so those opportunities, I'm waiting to see, uh, what Crowd Street brings on the marketplace. Um, so yes, that would be another one. Besides that, there are are a few states which are seeing, uh, which are seen as hot markets. And we know people are moving from east coast and west coast to some of the southern states, Midwest, and some states are kind of doing better than the others. So it, it is also gonna be a location based, um, that I'm gonna be looking at.
Brent 00:06:17
Yeah, well that's very timely because we're publishing our best places to invest for the first time ever. Uh, so you and I spoke a little bit about yesterday when we were getting acquainted and, uh, that is, that is now out in the marketplace, um, as the time of this publishing of the street beats. So we're definitely trying to, uh, give investors like you even more resources and insight into what we're thinking as our investments team. You know, reviews, obviously, they review many more deals than you actually see live on the marketplace because we, uh, you know, we review them and then some, some of the deals just aren't. Right. Uh, you and I were talking about, you know, the, your, your perspective of, you know, as we review deals and, and our investments team go through that and then put it out there and then kind of your point of view of, of then what you know, then what's your, what's your sort of responsibility to go then and look at it? Um, you wanna talk a little bit about that?
Sukhjit 00:07:16
Absolutely. So the first thing is, as me being not a primary realtor or in this area, so more like an investor. So I'm kind of counting on a third party, like Crowd Street itself, which is kind of reviewing these deals with due diligence and they have reviewed the numbers and looked at the experience of the sponsor. So that gives me, it puts me at ease. And when I look at the numbers which are presented by the CrowdStreet, it starts making sense. And then some, some of those deals gonna make more sense to me and why I would choose one over the other. So a lot of work behind the scene is being done by your platform, which I, as an investor really appreciate. Um, on top of it also, you brought up the resources that are on CrowdStreet. I must say that they are very helpful. Um, uh, sometimes learning about simple definitions, what is I are, are, so some of those simple things, it's, um, the platform, uh, gives this marketplace, but also educational piece, which I think, um, puts you, uh, above and beyond other platforms. And that's why I'm with CrowdStreet.
Brent 00:08:29
That's great. Well, it sounds like you're, for somebody who's been involved less than a year, have you've really, you know, kind of dove in and, uh, been really active and, uh, made some good investments and, uh, have learned quite a bit along the way as well. So, uh, any other thoughts about this year and what you're excited about?
Sukhjit 00:08:51
Um, this pandemic has affected all of us. So, uh, whenever, uh, uh, stressed whenever and something like this happens, which, which takes a toll on the community, we always rise as humans. So I believe in something positive coming out of it. It's unfortunate how the pandemic has, people have lost lives, you know, but the human beings, we have to stay resilient and we will be, and I believe we will have opportunities. So, um, I, I personally think that I'm, when I'm investing, I'm looking for environmental impacts, social impacts, and I think much of the community on Crowd Street and VA investors and sponsors are also doing their part of it, and that's the right thing to do. So definitely this year, um, I'm hoping, and I'm gonna stay positive that it's gonna be good for all of us, and we hope so. Uh, with the vaccine in place, we can just hope that it's gonna be really, really good.
Brent 00:09:50
That's great. Well, thank you for those, uh, optimistic words, so I'm sure everybody, uh, you know, can't get enough of hearing that. So, uh, Soji, I've really enjoyed the conversation. I've enjoyed getting to know you, uh, really appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to share your story, both with me and the CrowdStreet community. So, uh, look forward to our next conversation and until then, we'll see you on the Cross street marketplace.
Sukhjit 00:10:16
Thank you, Brent. And thank you all for watching this.