Discover how real estate asset management enhances investment performance. Learn how market positioning strategies create long-term value.
Real estate asset management isn’t just a back-office function here at Ignite Funding - it’s the foundation of protecting and growing your capital. Our disciplined approach ensures that every dollar you invest is backed by a well-managed, collateralized property. If there’s one thing that Ignite Funding is known for, it’s helping our investors from start to finish.
In today’s uncertain economic climate, investors look for more than just returns, they want transparency, security, and strategies that help them grow their wealth. For many beginner investors starting out, managing real estate projects is what they start off doing. They fix & flip houses one by one, sometimes taking on an active role, hoping for a return on their investment.
But for those with more experience and knowledge, investing in other financial vehicles might make more sense. Here’s how our blueprint can help investors make informed decisions and deliver a reliable passive income stream. We spoke to Patrick Vassar, Director of Underwriting here at Ignite Funding to discuss some of the reasons borrowers and investors choose Ignite Funding.
“From our side, we don't get any of the upside, right? We are debt instruments. So, we want to protect our downside, which is where the underwriting process comes into play. That downside mitigation is mostly done on the front end, because that's when we have the most power, when we can say yes or no to a loan. After we have said yes to a loan, there's not much we can do to make sure it fulfills its obligation of being developed or being constructed because we are debt, and we don't have the say on the day-to-day operations. They can change footprints. They can change color, they can change layouts, all of that. And we have no say whatsoever. So, we want to ensure we're working with guys that know what they're doing and have done it before.” – Patrick Vassar, Director of Underwriting
Managing real estate isn’t just about construction or development. It’s about mitigating risk, increasing value, and optimizing returns. From acquisition to disposition, we take an active role in overseeing the borrower’s use of funds, project milestones, and repayment timelines. Each project is selected, reviewed, and managed by Ignite Funding’s in-house team of experts who oversee the lifecycle of each project from underwriting and funding to project oversight and repayment. Read about how Ignite Funding services loans here.
With every trust deed investment, we ensure the underlying property is:
This level of involvement minimizes risk while maximizing investor confidence in each opportunity.
Patrick Vassar states that, “Yeah, we talk to the borrower, usually at least on a quarterly basis and more frequently than that for most, just to get an idea of where they're at. We also utilize the ‘trust but verify’ [principle]. So, trust what they're saying, but we need to verify from third parties… if they say x, y, z needed to be done before they get it fully entitled, well, we can check with the city. If they say we're done with our mechanical, electrical, plumbing inspection (MEPS), we will go out there and do a site visit and ensure that they're at that spot.”
Strategic market positioning is essential in any real estate investing. At Ignite Funding, we focus on projects in markets with:
We align our trust deed offerings with these factors to help investors participate in high-performing markets without owning physical real estate. This approach not only optimizes returns but also mitigates exposure to market volatility.
“Well, the right fit is very subjective from the investor side. We have investors that want to get in or out of deals for a whole multitude of reasons. Most of the time people get into the deal because they want to make money, right? I mean, simple as that.
One thing that they can look at is our loans typically are nine months with a nine-month extension. However, if they are a development loan or construction loan, it'll be a multi closing tranche loan, meaning, we will be giving the borrower additional draws throughout the process.
So maybe they think there's too much risk on the front end. They want to wait and see once it's fully developed before they give any money for the vertical side. They can do that. They can look and see where those projects at with all of our developments. Other investors say, ‘No, we want to be on the front end because we don't want to do docs. We'll get in early, and I know there won't be any payoffs during that time, so we'll get in early and just hold on to it.’ And there's a lower probability of payoff. So, less documents from the investor side makes sense. So, everybody kind of looks at the different.” – Patrick Vassar, Director of Underwriting
Once an investment is made, our work is just beginning. Effective property asset management involves more than securing a lien. It means monitoring every stage of the project to protect investor interests. Our team maintains direct relationships with borrowers, ensures on-time reporting, and acts immediately when issues arise.
For investors, this means:
It’s how we deliver consistent 10-12% annual returns on trust deed investments.
Here’s what sets us apart when managing these assets:
We understand that this isn’t just about performance but it’s about peace of mind. It’s why we’re rated 4.9 stars for our 500+ Investor Reviews. It’s why trust deed investors choose Ignite Funding.
During 2023-2024, alternative lenders saw a 34% increase in commercial real estate loan volume, while traditional bank lending fell by 24%. Investors are directly filling the gap and trust deed investments are taking the lead in higher-yield, short-term, collateralized returns.
At its core Ignite Funding’s strategy is the Trust Deed Investment model. Here’s how it works in 4 simple steps:
The returns typically range from 10-12% annually and the terms are around 9 months with a 9-month extension. This is one of the most direct ways to earn passive income from real estate without owning, fixing, or managing the property yourself.
Now because we do everything in-house our team is directly involved in the oversight of the property and can directly protect your principal in ways that other ‘hand-off’ investments rarely can.
We are known to put the investor first. We’re different because we don’t just offer opportunities, we help manage the process every step of the way.
You, as an investor don’t have to:
We do all that for you. The result? You get predictable monthly income backed by a tangible secure asset. And you have a team of professionals who are just as invested in your success as you are.
“There is no hands on, they (the borrowers) are utilizing our services for the hands-on side of it. It's kind of the Easy-Bake oven approach. You just kind of set it and forget it”.
Ignite Funding provides a hands-off investment experience with professional real estate asset management built in. Explore previously Funded Investments and let us help you put your money to work.
*Disclaimer: Ignite Funding may occasionally offer a second lien position loan; however, lien position will be clearly stated on all investor documentation.