Bill Gates' 27-year-old daughter paid a reported $51M for this 'paparazzi-proof' NYC penthouse — 3 simpler ways to get into prime real estate if your Dad doesn't have billions

Bill Gates' 27-year-old daughter paid a reported $51M for this 'paparazzi-proof' NYC penthouse — 3 simpler ways to get into prime real estate if your Dad doesn't have billions
Bill Gates' 27-year-old daughter paid a reported $51M for this 'paparazzi-proof' NYC penthouse — 3 simpler ways to get into prime real estate if your Dad doesn't have billions

These days, most people would consider themselves lucky if they managed to buy any house before they turned 30. However, if your father just happens to have created one of the most successful tech companies in the world, you can do much better than a total teardown on the edge of town.

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For 27-year-old Jennifer Gates — the eldest daughter of billionaire Bill Gates and his ex-wife Melinda French Gates — that translates into a starter home that’s actually a $51 million luxury penthouse in New York’s Tribeca neighborhood.

Business Insider reports the unit was once owned by British racing champion Lewis Hamilton. Located at 443 Greenwich Street, the building’s “paparazzi-proof” underground garage has made it popular with the rich and famous — including Jake Gyllenhaal, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel, and Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds.

Privacy isn’t the unit’s only amenity though. Gates’ 8,900-square-foot unit stretches across three storeys. It also has multiple private elevators and 3,400-square-feet of outdoor space with a plunge pool.

The penthouse is definitely a cut above what most 27-year-olds — let alone 57-year-olds — could even dream of calling home. That being said, you don’t need to be a trust-fund baby to get exposure to prime real estate. Here are three ways you can add some luxury hard assets to your portfolio.

REITs

Real estate investment trusts or REITs are, perhaps, the most convenient way to add property exposure to your portfolio. These instruments are similar to exchange-listed funds, but they focus on real estate instead of stocks and have specific rules about dividend payouts.

You can find niche REITs focused on segments ranging from warehouses to data centers. But if you’re looking to add exposure to luxury real estate, consider AvalonBay Communities (AVB) and Equity Residential (EQR). These trusts focus on luxury apartments that appeal to “affluent long-term renters.” Both stocks offer dividend yields of 3.44% and 4.24%, respectively.

ETFs

Exchange-traded funds or ETFs are another convenient way to get real estate exposure in your portfolio. These funds can track real estate development companies, homebuilders, property managers or brokerages.

However, if you’re looking for prime international real estate with high income potential, the GlobalX SuperDividend REIT ETF (SRET) is worth considering. Only 56% of the fund’s portfolio is based in the U.S., while the rest is spread across the world. The fund’s top holdings include Mexican REIT Fibra Uno and U.S. commercial REIT Ladder Capital Corp.

The ETF offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 7.69% — far higher than the average dividend yield of the S&P 500 (1.48%) or typical U.S. REITs (4.3%).

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Crowdfunding

Raising funds from a community of retail investors, often called crowdfunding, is popular for tech startups. Now, it’s gaining ground in the real estate sector too.

Prime commercial real estate presents a great investment opportunity. It has outperformed the S&P 500 over a 25-year period — but until recently, only the ultra rich with millions to invest were able to get in on that action.

But with the help of new crowdfunding platforms, opportunities like this are now open to regular retail investors, making it easier than ever to get property exposure into your portfolio.

Some platforms even let retail investors add private loans or commercial property to their basket.

With crowdfunding, you can access niche opportunities that would otherwise have been exclusively available to hedge funds and family offices. Put simply, you don’t need a billionaire father to get into real estate.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

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