Four investors emphasized how leveraged appreciation remains a potent—and often overlooked—benefit of property investing. By using borrowed capital (e.g., a 10% down payment), investors can enjoy full asset appreciation, dramatically boosting returns. They also recommend smart strategies—like 1031 exchanges and cash-out refinancing—to reinvest equity and enhance cash flow.

Meanwhile, Hilco Global, long known for asset liquidation, has announced it will sell 70% of its equity to Japanese firm Orix. This deal, valued at ~$1 billion, marks Hilco’s strategic pivot toward asset-based lending, including direct financing of private-market investments. Hilco plans to launch a dedicated asset-management and direct-lending arm, supported by $1 billion from Orix, with the deal expected to close by Q3 2025.

These stories highlight a clear trend: platform equity models in real estate are innovating—ranging from leveraging investor capital more fully to establishing new direct-lending vehicles that compete with banks and private-credit giants.

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