Growth of Vancouver Fintech Shows Thirst for Real Estate Investment, Development in BC

Born in Vancouver in 2018, addy took some time to expand beyond the borders of beautiful BC as it figured out of the gears of its platform.

In 2020, addy fully launched, and by the end of the year had tapped the Alberta market by releasing an opportunity to invest in an industrial park in the Calgary area.

In 2023, the digital real estate investment platform made waves for helping rejuvenate the downtown core of Calgary following a hollowing-out of office space due to the pandemic-fuelled migration to hybrid and remote working models—and the region continues to attract online investment as addy prepares to release two more Calgary-based opportunities.

That’s not the only geographical expansion addy is currently involved in.

Another brand new ownership opportunity includes addy’s first-ever US property—a five-year contract with a student housing complex that anticipates an estimated return of 19% with regular payouts.

The fintech firm offers what it calls “hands-off ownership,” in which the unexpected headaches that come with owning property are handled on behalf of the investor.

“From contracts to closing, from being a landlord to juggling maintenance—our Issuers handle all the details, so you can just pick an address and go,” the BC upstart says, adding that you own a property “alongside thousands of other community members, sharing in the risks and rewards together.”

In Alberta, addy this week released The Isaac on 9th in the community of Inglewood in Calgary, where developers intend to build 84 rental units in an apartment structure with street front retail.

The development aims to capture the heritage-rich aesthetic of the neighbourhood’s Carson Block, iconic for its Classical Revival elegance and history.

The plan calls for zoning changes that will lead to a six-story building mixing everything from townhomes to studios expected to be completed in 2025.

A three-year commitment suggests annual returns approaching 19% for a total return of more than 67%. Unlike many addy contracts, this investment is focused solely on the end return and thus will offer no dividends.

Already, well over 100 investors in Canada have committed more than $70,000 toward The Isaac, which is seeking $500,000 through the platform.

Another active opportunity in the Alberta region is the Altadore Townhomes, a complex of 20 multifamily rental units.

There’s also one in B.C.

Indeed, Addy currently has a total of four projects available for investment, a sign of substantial growth for the company over historical averages.

The fintech firm’s portfolio of opportunities has certainly expanded in recent years—and since the beginning, just about every investment on the platform has maxed out.

This suggests that British Columbians are increasingly taking advantage of easier access to real estate investments, and also that developers are also open to alternate routes of financing projects.