Non-Traded REIT Attorneys

Erez Law is currently investigating risky investments that have out you at risk. Our investment fraud lawyers represent investors nationwide who were sold certain products referred to as non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs) and business development companies (BDCs).

A REIT is a company, modeled after mutual funds, that owns or finances income-producing real estate and provides investors with all types of regular income streams, diversification, and long-term capital appreciation. Unlike other real estate investments, non-traded REITs are often entirely illiquid. Non-traded REITs hold additional risks for investors because they often feature limited redemption programs, high fees, and commissions (on average 13.2 percent), and internal conflicts of interest. Unlike stocks on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), non-traded REITs are not publicly traded and cannot be sold through an exchange, only through secondary market auctions.

REITs are entities that generally own and often manage income-producing real estate. BDCs are entities that generally invest in small and mid-sized businesses. Investors in diversified portfolios of traded REITs bear less liquidity and market risk and earn substantially higher returns than investors in non-traded REITs. Non-traded REITs and non-traded BDCs are typically illiquid, and they have no public trading market and a liquidity event typically occurs within five to seven years of an offering’s inception.

According to the Securities and Exchange Commission, “Investors may be attracted to non-traded REITs by their relatively high dividend yields compared to those of publicly traded REITs. However, investors should consider the total return of a non-traded REIT – capital appreciation plus dividends – instead of focusing exclusively on the high dividend yield. Unlike publicly traded REITs, non-traded REITs frequently pay distributions in excess of their funds from operations. To do so, they may use offering proceeds and borrowings. This practice, which is typically not used by publicly traded REITs, reduces the value of the shares and reduces the cash available to the company to purchase additional assets. In considering an investment in a non-traded REIT, you should assess the extent to which distributions have been paid from sources other than funds from operations.”

Erez Law Explains Risky REIT Investments

At least $116 billion has been invested in non-traded REITs in the past 25 years, mostly to unsophisticated investors. Non-traded REITs come “full cycle” and experience a liquidity event when they list on an exchange or are acquired in a transaction that allows their investors to receive cash for their shares of non-traded REITs. Most successful non-traded REITs experience a liquidity event, which results in truncated return distribution. However, that is not always the case as many on-traded REITs fail completely.

Despite the initial lure due to regular distributions and low volatility, some non-traded REITs have been significantly cut or reduced to $0, such as Hospitality Investors Trust in 2017. Additionally, unbeknownst to investors, the published NAV price is often or usually very different than the market price. When it comes time to sell, this would require investors to sell at significant discounts in the secondary market.

Unlike publicly-traded REITs and publicly-traded BDCs, non-traded REITs and non-traded BDCs have certain characteristics that make them riskier for investors. They may contain higher commissions and fees, are generally illiquid as they have no public trading market, and pay distributions from invested capital back to investors, or from debt, as opposed to providing distributions of earnings from real estate holdings. These characteristics make them inherently riskier for investors.

Investors seeking recourse for losses in REITs and BDCs are required to file their disputes in FINRA arbitration. Erez Law has been retained by many investors to file FINRA arbitration claims against brokerage firms to recover their losses. Our firm has been very successful in making recoveries for our clients throughout the United States.

At Erez Law, many of our clients come to us because of our specialization in recovering investment losses due to losses in REITs and BDCs. We use considerable legal resources to help investors who trusted reckless and unethical financial advisors. We hold brokerage firms accountable for dishonest investment advisory practices, unsuitable recommendations, misrepresentation, and over-concentration in connection with their investment recommendations.

If you invested in REITs and BDCs without understanding the risks associated with your investment, you may be able to recoup your losses. Our team of ton-traded REIT and BDC fraud attorneys have experience with FINRA arbitration, and we know how to hold brokerage firms and advisers liable for their indiscretions.

Recovering Losses Through FINRA Arbitrations

Across the United States, investors are filing FINRA arbitration claims against their brokerage firms for investments made due to recommendations by their broker to invest in unsuitable real estate investment trusts and business development companies.

Many of these investors were not adequately warned about the high-risk nature of the investments, and have suffered serious financial losses as a result. Investors may have a claim against the brokerage firm based on misrepresentation, unsuitability, breach of fiduciary duty, and state and federal securities laws.

A broker must have reasonable grounds for each recommendation made to investors considering such factors as the customer’s other securities holdings, financial situation, and risk tolerance. In addition, before a financial advisor recommends a security to his customers, the financial advisor must conduct due diligence, investigating the facts surrounding the security, to confirm that it is suitable for the customer. The suitability of an investment for a particular individual is at the center of the investment process and one of the key duties owed by a broker to the customer. A firm may be held liable for its broker’s failure to recommend suitable investments to its customers.

In addition, pursuant to FINRA Rules, member firms are responsible for supervising a broker’s activities during the time the broker is registered with the firm. Therefore, the brokerage firm may be liable for investment or other losses suffered by financial advisors who worked for the firm.

Erez Law Cases for Non-Traded REIT and BDC Losses

In October 2019, Erez Law filed a FINRA arbitration against Axa Advisors, LLC for losses due to unsuitable investments in Corporate Capital Trust, Inc. and Northstar Real Estate Income Trust II by broker Andrew Krakauer (CRD #1613159), a registered representative of Axa Advisors, LLC in Woodbury, New York since 1987. According to the claim filed by Erez Law, Krakauer recommended that the clients invest in two non-traded alternative investments: Corporate Capital Trust, Inc. and Northstar Real Estate Income Trust II. Corporate Capital Trust, Inc. and Northstar Trust were unsuitable, high-risk, and illiquid alternative investments that paid an exceptionally high commission. However, it is alleged that Krakauer told the clients that they were investing in high-quality real estate.

In May 2019, Erez Law filed a FINRA another arbitration against Centaurus Financial, Inc. related to investments with Ricky Mantei (CRD# 1098981), Cindy Chiellini (CRD# 1015592), and Katherine Nishnic (CRD# 2499553), who were registered representatives of Centaurus Financial, Inc. in Lexington, South Carolina. It is alleged that Mantei, Chiellini, and Nishnic recklessly recommended that the family over-concentrate their accounts in complex, high-risk, and illiquid investments including unsuitable structured products, structured CDs, and high-risk and unsuitable non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs) in Hospitality Investors Trust and Northstar Healthcare Income, two non-traded REITs. Both of these are non-listed and illiquid investments. These investments have declined in value, can only be sold at a significant discount or loss and the yield has declined as well. Mantei, Chiellini, and Nishnic failed to adequately disclose the risks attendant to these investments.

In March 2020, Erez Law filed a FINRA arbitration against Presidential Brokerage, Inc. and broker Gregory Williams (CRD# 1561089), who has been a registered representative of Forta Financial Group (also known as Presidential Brokerage, Inc.) in Greenwood Village, Colorado since 2011. According to the claim, Williams recommended that Erez Law clients invest in the high-risk energy sector, as well as, UITs and BDCs, including Cion Investment Corp. Fund, FS Energy and Power Fund, and the Sierra Income Corp. These three alternative investments are business development companies (BDCs) that primarily make loans. Each one of these is a non-traded fund that is illiquid in other words, there is no ready market to sell them. However, Williams represented that these BDCs were conservative investments that would generate consistent income while preserving capital. Williams failed to adequately disclose the illiquid nature of the BDCs and that they could lose a significant amount of their capital, amongst other things. The FS Energy and Power Fund is an energy-focused BDC and as such further increased the clients’ exposure to the energy sector thereby further increasing risk.

Investors Were Sold Unsuitable Non-Traded REITs and BDCs

Erez Law is currently investigating the following brokers who have allegedly recommended their clients invest in unsuitable REITs and BDCs:

Erez Law’s non-traded REIT fraud attorneys are currently investigating the following brokerage firms that have brokers who allegedly recommended their clients invest in unsuitable REITs and BDCs:

Erez Law is interested in speaking with investors who invested in the following types of REITs and BDCs, including but not limited to the following:

Contact Our Non-Traded REIT Lawyers For a Free Consultation

If you have experienced investment losses or financial irregularities as a result of investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) or business development companies (BDCs), we are here to help. We are not afraid of taking on corrupt firms, and we can and will combat some of the largest brokerage firms in the United States. Count on our experience to successfully take you through the FINRA arbitration process.

Please call us at (888) 840-1571 for a free consultation or complete our contact form to investigate your recourse for losses in REIT and BDC investments. Erez Law is a nationally recognized investment fraud protection law firm representing individuals, trusts, corporations, and institutions in claims against brokerage firms, banks, and insurance companies. If you have more questions about investment fraud, you can visit our securities fraud frequently asked questions page, or contact our firm to speak with one of our qualified REIT investment fraud attorneys.