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Problems the CRE Industry Can Address by using Blockchain Technology [Part 1]

Now is “the most exciting and interesting time to be involved in commercial real estate”, according to the CBRE Global Real Estate Market Outlook 2017.

The CRE industry has been slow to adopt new tech but its interest in technology is growing rapidly. In fact, research from Deloitte shows that real estate tech startups are powering the industry with new ideas which CRE professionals are eager to embrace:

“… cumulative investments in these startups soared from $2.4 billion to $33.7 billion.*”

*Between 2008 and 2017.

The technological change is much called for in the CRE given the number and scale of the problems that industry professionals are experiencing. Let’s take a closer look.

★ Problem: property search is time-consuming, unreliable and inefficient

Today, CRE search occurs almost entirely via an MLS (multiple listing service) or property portal. Using these shared databases, brokers list available properties for prospective clients to view.

However, the current state of the MLS landscape has several significant flaws:

there is no process to verify the data that brokers list for accuracy;
there are no established and standardized guidelines for the data in the industry;
the information is often dated and the property search is fracture. This consumes a lot of time and doesn’t help educated decision-making.

As well as that, there are endless opportunities for data modification in an existing MLS or shared database. As a result, tenants and investors struggle with seeing this as a credible source of listing data.

✔ Solution: Smart and efficient property search via a blockchain MLS

The blockchain MLS like the one AgentMile (here is a link to the AgentMile listing) provides will be a truly shared database where information is accurate and up-to-date. Blocks of data about brokers, landlords, tenants, property managers, credit and repair history, lease rates, etc. cannot be changed once they are added to the blockchain making it the most secure technology known today.

★ Problem: Time-consuming pre-lease due diligence checks

Today, each CRE transaction goes through the hands and systems of numerous third parties. Examples include due diligence and compliance checks that are just one part in the mechanism of a CRE transaction.

Likewise, verifying the property history, previous owners and tenants, compliance records, etc. is done manually and often depends on the physical availability of the documents.

As you can imagine, failure to conduct due diligence checks and verify data can lead to tremendous losses. The CRE market in the US alone amounts to $15 trillion. It’s no surprise then that the industry is being threatened by new types of fraudulent activity that appear each year.

✔ Solution: digital identities of people and properties

A Blockchain-powered platform like AgentMile will allow digital identities of people and properties. This means that pre-lease due diligence can be performed upfront with near-perfect accuracy. Digital identities will also consolidate property/owner/tenant profiles and all associated data.

★ Problem: disparate and inefficient property/cash flow management

Property and cash flow management in CRE are synonymous with high costs in time and resources. CRE professionals often use disparate and antiquated systems to track payments and property maintenance costs, to report and plan.

Even more, brokers struggle to create a smooth, transparent and efficient workflow because they depend on a large number of parties to commit to their transactional obligations:

landlords;
tenants;
property maintenance providers such as contractors, architects, designers, etc.;
banks for financing or refinancing;
appraisers;
independent auditors;
title companies, etc.

On top of that, brokers update at least one ledger once the money is paid or received.

✔ Solution: Smart Contracts

Smart Contracts have the potential to automate and accelerate many aspects of property and cash flow management. For example, they can automatically collect rent, pay contractors, pay maintenance costs and security deposits according to the terms of the lease contract.

…

[To be continued]