While Jeff Bezos is primarily famous for establishing Amazon.com Inc., he also holds investments in a range of less publicized ventures across various industries.
His investment vehicle, Bezos Expeditions, has participated in the early funding rounds of several startups that have grown to become major players in their fields. Noteworthy investments include Airbnb Inc., Uber Technologies Inc., and the more recent Arrived.
Arrived has gained recognition by dividing single-family rentals into fractions and offering shares to individual investors starting at a minimum of $100. Since debuting its inaugural property in 2021, this real estate investment platform has successfully financed close to 400 properties, accumulating over $156 million in managed assets.
Bezos initially backed Arrived with an investment during its $37 million Seed Round in 2021 and further increased his investment during the Series A round in 2022.
The company has broadened its portfolio to introduce the Private Credit Fund, which allows its investors to tap into a collection of short-term real estate loans provided to other investors and homebuilders.
These loans differ from standard residential mortgages as they typically last between six to 36 months and are intended to fund real estate endeavors like renovations, rehabilitations, or new home construction. While the fund primarily focuses on individual loans ranging from $100,000 to $500,000, it is also open to considering larger loan opportunities up to $5 million.
The fund produces cash yields by accruing interest from the loans it issues and then distributing these earnings to investors. It aims for an annualized return of 7% to 9%, with dividends disbursed monthly. Given the short duration of its loans, the fund offers more adaptable liquidity solutions compared to many other debt funds. Investors have the flexibility to redeem all or part of their shares after a six-month period.
During the unveiling of the Private Credit Fund, Arrived’s co-founder and CEO, Ryan Frazier, expressed that the new product was developed in response to direct feedback from their investor community.
Frazier further stated their confidence in the timing of its introduction to investors, noting that several debt investment opportunities had emerged which would enable the firm to provide robust risk-adjusted returns.
Arrived’s introduction of its new fund coincides with a notable expansion in the private credit market, especially within the real estate industry. The combination of rising interest rates and volatility in the equity markets has enhanced the attractiveness of this asset class for investors looking for high returns and minimal linkage to the stock market.
Additionally, the availability of investment opportunities in this area has grown as banks have become more stringent with their lending criteria.
The present 30-year fixed-rate mortgage stands at 7.04%, with standard bridge loans fluctuating between 9.5% and 12%. Given that long-term government bonds yield about 4.5%, loans backed by residential real estate present an attractive risk-adjusted return.
