Urbanitae, a Key Player in Alternative Investment Forums
In recent weeks, we have had the privilege of participating in two major events focused on real estate investment and financing. Urbanitae was present at the Real Estate Financing Forum, held on February 26, and the Family Office & Private Wealth Real Estate Forum, held on March 4—both in Madrid and organized by Planner Exhibitions.
Alternative Financing in the Residential Sector
At the Real Estate Financing Forum, we had the opportunity to discuss with industry experts the potential of debt and equity financing for developers. Our Director of Institutional Relations, José María Gómez-Acebo, highlighted the importance of alternative financing in supporting projects that would otherwise not be feasible. “If we invest in equity, we do not invest in debt, so as not to be involved in both parts of the process,” he explained, emphasizing Urbanitae’s commitment to projects with reputable developers and solid demand.
Meanwhile, Diego Bestard, CEO of Urbanitae, participated in the panel “Alternative Financing II: Crowdfunding and Collaborative Investment Platforms in Housing.” During his speech, Bestard analyzed the exponential growth of real estate crowdfunding and its role in diversifying financing options for developers. “The anomaly is that we used to rely solely on bank financing,” he noted, underlining the enormous potential of the Spanish market in this field. He also emphasized Urbanitae’s role in land financing, a segment that has traditionally struggled to secure bank credit.
In terms of profitability, Bestard explained that Urbanitae has financed more than 5,000 homes in recent years, offering average portfolio returns of around 10% and equity returns ranging between 15% and 20%. “Real estate development investments must deliver these kinds of returns; otherwise, they don’t make sense,” he stated. He also highlighted the platform’s ability to provide fast and efficient financing, completing deals in as little as 15 days.
Urbanitae Wealth
On March 4, Urbanitae returned to El Beatriz Madrid to participate in the Family Office & Private Wealth Real Estate Forum, an event focused on investment strategies for high-net-worth individuals. Diego Bestard took part in the panel “Towards 2025: Repositioning, Diversification, and Emerging Trends,” where he explored market opportunities for family offices and private wealth investors.
One of the key topics discussed was the growing interest in redevelopment projects, an area where Urbanitae has led multiple initiatives—from transforming factories into hotels to converting retail spaces into storage units, with returns ranging between 12% and 15%. Bestard pointed out that, given the current shortage of supply, these projects represent a strategic investment opportunity. “We are in a historic moment to invest in debt because the risk-return ratio is highly favorable,” he stated.
The event also highlighted the trend of family offices diversifying their real estate investments. In this regard, Urbanitae positions itself as a strategic partner for these investors, offering access to projects with attractive returns and flexible financing models.
Our presence at these forums reaffirms our role as a benchmark in alternative and collaborative real estate financing. We remain committed to digitalization, agility in financing, and democratizing access to high-value investments for all types of investors, from retail to institutional. Are you ready to invest with us?