New intuitive software and mobile applications give investors and builders a greater selection of lending and borrowing opportunities across a variety of real estate asset classes and geographies, says Kenny Slaught. California’s crowdfunding or peer-to-peer lending projects emerged because of the adoption of the Jumpstart Our Business Startup (JOBS) Act in 2012, which significantly widened the ways in which sponsors can raise funds for real estate acquisitions and developments. The new regulation legalizes the previously banned practice of openly soliciting private funding from accredited individuals and firms. Citizens with a net worth of $1,000,000, excluding ownership of their personal home, or making an annual income of $200,000 or a household income of $300,000 per annum, if filed jointly with a spouse, is eligible to become an accredited investor. The amendments make it possible for individual borrowers and lenders to participate in debt and equity financing, loans which generate income in the form of interest, without an official financial institution involved as an intermediary. The online marketplace has created a new avenue for property owners and investors to browse offerings, perform due diligence, and view dashboards to track how assets and financial products are performing.