Masterworks vs Groundfloor Comparison

Assess their risks, liquidity, investments, returns, timeframes and other terms

Invest in fractionalized multimillion-dollar paintings

Invest in real estate loans

444,000 visits/month 9,700 search keywords
129,000 visits/month 2,000 search keywords

Investments
$15,000

The minimum investment required is $15,000, which can be used to buy one or more assets.

Investments
$10

Groundfloor enables individuals to begin investing in real estate with a minimal initial requirement of only $10.


Moderate Risk
3/5

Investing in art through Masterworks has risks, including concentration in a single artwork, limited insurance coverage, market volatility, and uncertainty in the secondary market.

Moderate Risk
3/5

Investing on Groundfloor involves credit risk from borrower default, market risk due to real estate market fluctuations, liquidity risk as investments are tied up until loan maturity without a secondary market for early exit, regulatory risk from changes in laws affecting real estate and crowdfunding, and platform risk related to operational disruptions or cybersecurity threats.


Moderate Liquidity
2/5

You have the option to trade shares on the platform's secondary market, but there are certain restrictions on what and how you can trade.

Minimum Liquidity
1/5

On Groundfloor, liquidity is tied to the term of the real estate loans, which range from 6 to 18 months. Investors' funds are committed until the loan matures and the borrower repays.

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Moderate Return
12.6 %

Profits come from selling the painting or when investors sell their shares.

Moderate Return
10.72 %

Groundfloor's loans are graded from A to G, with interest rates ranging from 5.5% to 25.5% annually, based on risk. A diversified portfolio across all repaid loans to date would have earned a 10.72% annualized net return.


Long-term Investment
3-7 years

Masterworks keeps the artwork for 3 to 10 years.

Short-term Investment
6+ months

Groundfloor investments have loan terms ranging from 6 to 18 months.


Who can invest
International

Masterworks welcomes individuals, corporations, or entities from any location, including the United States.

Who can invest
International

Groundfloor is accessible to investors both in the US and internationally. However, for non-US investors, a minimum transfer-in amount of $5,000 is required.


Moderate Volatility
3/5

Art market fluctuations can lead to rapid price increases and declines, posing risks for short-term investors who may lose a significant portion of their capital.

Moderate Volatility
3/5

The assets on Groundfloor, which are short-term real estate loans, generally exhibit lower volatility compared to stocks, as their value is more closely tied to specific real estate projects and less to daily market swings.


Regulation and audits
SEC Regulated

Masterworks provides SEC-approved offering circulars for each artwork, allowing public investment. AGD Legal reviews art investments annually.

Regulation and audits
SEC Regulated

Groundfloor offers securities under Regulation A of the Securities Act of 1933, allowing it to sell securities to residents in states where it's qualified or announced its intent under Regulation A's Tier 1 or Tier 2.


Insurance
Yes

Artworks are insured for up to $500 million by Lloyd's of London, but coverage may not fully match the artwork's value.

Insurance
No

Investments on Groundfloor are not insured by any government agency such as the FDIC or SIPC, nor are they guaranteed by Groundfloor. This means investors fully assume the risk of borrower default or project failure, without any insurance safety net.


Payouts
No Recurring Payouts

The company doesn't generate revenue.

Payouts
Interest

Groundfloor pays interest on funded loans. Interest accrues from the investment date until the loan is repaid. Loans may have monthly or deferred payment terms, with monthly interest payments processed once a month and lump sum repayments for deferred loans.


Withdrawals

Investors should wait for the company to sell the painting to receive their share of the proceeds, after deducting fees.

Withdrawals

Investors on Groundfloor get their money back, including principal and accrued interest, once the borrower repays the loan, typically within 6 to 18 months. Repayments are processed within 7 days, with funds made available in the investor's dashboard for withdrawal or reinvestment.


Extra Fees
Yes

Masterworks charges a 1.5% yearly fee in equity, takes a 20% cut on art sales profits, and has a one-time sourcing fee per investment.

Extra Fees
No

Investors on Groundfloor pay no fees. Instead, borrowers are charged an underwriting fee by Groundfloor, ranging from 2% to 4.5% of the loan's principal amount.


Taxes
Tax Form

US taxpayers: subject to collectible gains rate (capped at 28%), unless owning 10%+ of a single painting. Masterworks provides a free Consolidated Tax Statement. Foreign investors: no US taxes or tax withholding.

Taxes
Tax Form

Groundfloor provides tax support by issuing a 1099-INT form for interest income over $10, a 1099-B for principal losses, and a 1099-MISC for promotional credits over $600.

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