If you feel that traditional investment routes aren’t for you, some of these more unusual, alternative investments could be just what you’re looking for. From property to wine, cities to gold, there’s something for everyone, and many of them are open to investors with small amounts of capital at their disposal.
Alternative Investments
There is an ever-growing list of different alternative investment platforms and types that allow you to invest in more unusual options rather than the traditional stocks, shares, and property that have controlled the market historically. Many of these new alternative investments can be categorized as:
- Private equity investments.
- Hedge funds.
- Cryptocurrency and digital asset investments.
- Private Lending.
- Tangible assets, such as wine, artwork, property, and rare resources.
The Best Alternative Investment Platforms By Type
There are many different alternative investment platforms. Here we’ve curated some of the best available to you and arranged them by type. See which catches your eye, and enjoy exploring your options in your own time.
Fractional Real Estate – Getaway
Fractional real estate investing is a great way to get onto the property ladder with only a fraction of the capital compared to traditional purchases.
It works by a group of people coming together to purchase a property together. They purchase fractions of the property on a percentage basis. That property can then be used as a vacation rental or a traditional rental. Each owner gains a percentage of the profits equal to the fraction they own.
Getaway facilitates the fractional real estate investment process easily and with minimal effort on the investor’s part. With the option to invest as little as $1,000, Getaway truly has opened up the real estate investment market to everyone.
Real Estate Crowdfunding – CrowdStreet
CrowdStreet is a real estate crowdfunding platform that allows accredited investors to purchase equity in US real estate projects. To become an accredited investor you’ll need a substantially high-net-worth so only a few people meet the eligibility requirements.
Despite its high minimum investment requirements, CrowdStreet offers good investment opportunities with high potential returns, though dividends may not be paid for a few years.
Diverse Range of Offerings – Yieldstreet
Yieldstreet is a wide-ranging alternative investment platform that is open to both accredited and non-accredited investors. They offer a very diverse range of options, including real estate, art equity, consumer debt portfolios, and others.
Once you sign up for Yieldstreet you gain access to informative webinars and educational resources to help you better understand various alternative investment opportunities. These resources are well-reviewed by Yieldstreet users and should be helpful on your investment journey.
Non-Accredited Investors – Cityfunds by Nada
Cityfunds by Nada allows you to invest in a piece of a city for as little as $250. With this small minimum investment, anyone can join at any time and own a piece of a city.
Nada invests in high-demand real estate markets such as Miami, Dallas, and Austin, with the ability to buy and sell shares like stocks. With Cityfunds, you get the benefits of ETFs combined with the world’s largest asset class, as well as the opportunity to earn rewards through the Nada Card waitlist.
Wine – Vint
Due to the limited supply and high demand for fine wine around the world, investing in wine can be an appealing option. With its wine investment platform, Vint allows retail investors to benefit from these market conditions.
The company has the resources, relationships, and expertise to secure access to some of the most sought-after and premium wines at discounted prices before they reach their peak value. This is made possible by their purchasing power in bulk and industry connections.
Individual investors can access these rare and valuable wine investments through Vint for a lower minimum investment than acquiring them independently.
This makes participation in this alternative investment opportunity easier and more affordable for anyone. Vint provides a convenient and accessible way to invest in wine and potentially reap the benefits of its high demand, whether you are a wine connoisseur or simply looking for a new investment avenue.
Artwork
Masterworks is a fine art investment platform that carefully selects and purchases works of art before registering them with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a regulation A share offering. When you invest in Masterworks, you will have the opportunity to share in the profits when the artwork you have purchased is sold.
The platform features works by well-known artists, including the enigmatic Banksy. However, this is a long-term investment with no recurring income, unlike investments in real estate. Investors should expect to wait several years before seeing a return on their investment.
Gold
Vaulted is an all-in-one gold trading and storage solution. You can easily buy and sell gold using just your phone and the Vaulted mobile app. Your investment will be safely stored in the vault of the Royal Canadian Mint, with an affordable yearly maintenance fee. Vaulted stands out among online gold brokers due to its low transaction fees and high level of transparency.
Key Takeaways
There are alternative investment platforms for all different levels of capital investment, and also for all different interests. For those keen on wine, there’s a wine investment platform, for traditionalists, there are property investment platforms in the form of fractional real estate investments. The most exciting aspect is the growth in the sector with more platforms appearing all the time.
- Alternative investment platforms are appearing with increasing frequency.
- Many platforms allow you to invest with a far smaller amount of capital than traditional investments.
