Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ Investors

FAQ Real Estate Companies

What is Brelion?
Brelion is an online platform that connects investors with real estate companies who are looking for loans.
What is the minimum amount I can invest?

The minimum investment is $1,000.

How do investors benefit from Brelion.com?
Investors benefit from potential high returns on a wide range of debt, equity and mezzanine real estate investments; lower investment minimums than competitor platforms; and the opportunity for enhanced portfolio diversification.
How does Brelion.com work?
Individuals can invest in pre-vetted real estate projects on Brelion.com by creating an account, undergoing accreditation, and financially backing the real estate project(s) of their choice.
Why should I invest in real estate?
Real estate investments offer competitive risk-adjusted returns and the chance to diversify your investment portfolio. 

How do I get started as an investor on Brelion.com?

You can get started by signing up for free and getting accredited. We ask you to provide specific information pertaining to your financial eligibility and integrity. All investments and transactions are conducted online. 

Are there fees to join?
No. Brelion only charges fees on the investments themselves. 

Can anyone invest?
As of now, Brelion only serves accredited investors. 

What is an accredited investor?

According to the SEC, “accredited investors” (i) earn at least $200,000 per year, or $300,000 per year with their spouse; or (ii) have a net worth of at least $1 million, excluding principal residence. For the SEC’s full definition, please visit http://www.sec.gov/answers/accred.htm.

How do you verify my accreditation?

After signing up on the platform, visit your profile and select “Accreditation” on the sidebar. We will ask you to verify that you meet all SEC criteria for accredited investors, as well as by confirming your ability to do the following:

     (a) represent that you have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that you are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of investment opportunities in private companies generally, and you are able to bear the economic risk of such investments including the risk of complete loss.

     (b) understand that Brelion will rely on the foregoing representations to, among other things, maintain compliance with securities laws,

     (c) certify that your answers to the foregoing questions are correctly stated to the best of your knowledge, information and belief,

     (d) agree that Brelion may require (in order for you to remain a member of Brelion or participate in any fund investment) that you (or your accountant or attorney) furnish any additional information to Brelion that it deems reasonably necessary in order to verify your answers to the foregoing questions, and

     (e) agree to Brelion's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

I just joined the site as an non-accredited investor. Why can’t I see any investments?

The full details of Brelion offerings are currently only available to accredited investors.

What types of investments will I see on Brelion?

Brelion primarily lists non-owner occupied residential as well as small to mid-size apartments/commercial projects.

What is the difference between debt and equity financing?

In debt financing, you invest in a company’s project with the understanding that your money will be paid back with interest, usually on a periodic basis.


In equity financing, your investment purchases a percentage of a company’s project. You won’t receive periodic payments, but will share in the profits that the project yields.

Do you do any due diligence before listing projects?

Yes. Brelion does due diligence on individual projects and on each company. However, due diligence is as much an art as a science, and we cannot be 100% certain that our due diligence process has uncovered all relevant information. We recommend doing your own due diligence to supplement what Brelion does. 

Can I do my own due diligence?

Yes, and Brelion strongly encourages you to do so. We post a substantial amount of information regarding our projects and real estate companies. If you think you need more information, feel free to ask us.

Does Brelion recommend investments?

No. While Brelion provides investors with information on projects, properties, and real estate companies, our platform does not make recommendations on individual investments. An investor must come to their own decision regarding any particular investment. If you’re not sure, you should consult with your own financial and investment advisors.

How should I choose among all the projects on the site?

Brelion provides some educational material, including blog posts on different types of projects and common investment strategies. However, we neither recommend any particular investments nor provide any direct investment advice. 

How much should I invest?

That’s entirely up to you and your investment advisors. As a general matter, many people recommend a balanced portfolio that includes both low-risk and high-risk investments (“diversification”), based on lots of factors including your age and tolerance for market fluctuations. 

How do I transfer funds to Brelion.com?
Brelion oversees ACH transfers from an investor's bank account to an escrow account, where funds are stored until the offering is fully-funded and the project commences.
Should I invest all my money in one investment?

Many investment professionals encourage diversifying your portfolio as much as possible.

What happens if an offering is oversubscribed?

An offering closes to further investors upon receiving commitments for the full amount of its funding target.

How risky are these investments?
Real estate crowdfunding is a high risk investment—much riskier than investing in a stock market index fund, for example. The same is true for any direct investment in real estate. Any project can fail and leave you with zero returns on your investment.
Are any of the projects guaranteed?
No. Brelion cannot guarantee that investors will receive an anticipated return, or even that they will get their money back.
The real estate market crashed in 2007-2008. Could that happen again?
Yes. Although a crash of the same magnitude is unlikely in the near future, you should still be prepared for periodic fluctuations in the real estate market.
What happens if a company defaults on payments?
In the case of a company default, our sister company Smartland can subsume a project to minimize losses for the crowd.
If I invest in a project, do I become personally liable for anything?
No, not at all. Brelion chooses its legal structures to protect investors from personal liability.
What happens if enough money isn’t raised to fund a project?
If enough money isn’t raised to fund a project, all pledged funds will be returned to investors.
Can I rescind my pledge or back out of project before the deadline?
You can back out of an investment up to 48 hours before its deadline. If there is a material change to the offering or to the information provided by the company, then all your previous investment commitments will be automatically cancelled unless you reconfirm them.
Will I have to pay any fees on my investments?
Yes. Brelion charges investors 1% of the interest earned on projects.
Where are your projects located?
While our home region is Northeast Ohio, Brelion conducts projects on local, national, and international levels.
Do you fund international projects?
Yes. Brelion is currently forging relationships with international real estate companies.
Do you allow international investors?
Yes, as long as you invest through U.S. entities. Please contact us for more information if you are an international investor.
How long is the investment period?
Brelion conducts projects from 12 to 24 months on average, but cannot guarantee any specific length of time for a project.
How are payments distributed to investors?
For debt projects, investors receive interest payments from real estate companies each month after a project is funded, with the principle paid when a project is completed and the company exits. For equity projects, investors receive a percentage of the profits that the project ultimately yields.
Will I be notified of how my investment is performing?
Yes, the real estate company will work with Brelion to send you monthly updates on project performance. Brelion also sends investors monthly updates, via phone or email, on project progress, revenue data and other platform interests. More info can be provided upon request.
How often are distributions sent to investors?
Distributions are sent to investors on a quarterly basis.
How can I track a project’s performance?
Investors can track the performance of their projects any time on their Brelion profile.
Will the owners of Brelion invest alongside other investors?
Yes, absolutely. Brelion’s founders/owners envisioned a platform that connects real estate companies seeking capital for projects with investors looking for lucrative investment opportunities. Our owners will take advantage of these opportunities and invest in projects alongside other investors.
What is Brelion?

Brelion is an online platform that crowdfunds real estate projects: we connect real estate companies seeking financing for residential and small-to-midsize commercial projects with accredited investors.

How does Brelion.com work?
Real estate companies on Brelion.com can obtain residential or commercial loans by filling out an online application, having their project request(s) approved, and awaiting funding through the crowd. 

How do real estate companies benefit from Brelion.com?

Brelion helps real estate companies gain fast and fluid access to cash for residential and commercial projects, with financial stability on transactions and a strong infrastructure for communicating/reporting to crowd investors. Our methodology is more efficient and less bureaucratic than financing performed by traditional banks or private lenders. Brelion provides a short-term finance solution of 12 to 24 months on average.
How do I get my real estate projects on Brelion.com?

First you must submit a form for the project(s) you want funded. Upon receiving your submission, our team reviews information on the property, the desired loan, and your history as a company. Our account manager then contacts you with a further explanation of the process and pre-vetting.


If you pass our pre-vetting stage, our underwriter assesses your submission for the 5Cs: Character, Collateral, Condition, Capacity, and Capital. If our underwriter approves the 5Cs, you receive a notification of acceptance, and your project gets listed on our platform.
What types of finance does Brelion provide?
Brelion provides debt, equity, and mezzanine financing. Our loans are secured by real estate on a preferred return basis, in which real estate companies start paying interest on project financed with debt after thirty days, regardless of how much progress has been made on the project. 

What is the difference between debt and equity financing?

With debt financing, investors pledge funds toward your project with the understanding that you will pay their money back with interest, usually on a periodic basis.


With equity financing, an investor essentially purchases a percentage of your project. You do not make periodic payments, but you share your profits from the project with the investor.
Where does the financing come from?
Brelion has an ever-expanding crowd of investors who are eager to fund real estate projects on Brelion.com. 

How fast can a project be funded?
Brelion cannot guarantee that money will be raised for a project, but will try to raise funds within 7 to 10 business days. 

How do I pay down/off my loan?

If your project is financed with debt, you pay monthly interest on your loan while it is outstanding. Distributions are made quarterly, and you pay the principal in full after the project is completed.

If your project is financed with equity, you do not have to pay monthly interest, but must share a percentage of any profits the project ultimately yields.
What terms does Brelion offer?

Brelion collects an administrative fee and a listing fee from the company after funds are raised. Real estate companies are also responsible for a 1 to 2% loan servicing fee.

How much equity is required?

Real estate companies are required to bring a minimum of 20% of equity to a project. 

How often are distributions sent to investors?

For projects financed with debt, you pay interest on a monthly basis. Distributions are made quarterly and the principal is paid off at the exit.