Brickstarter Review
Platform Overview
Platform Age
Launch Year
Headquarters
Spain
Projects Funded
Total Volume
Default Rate
Reported Rate
Unique Investment Approach
Brickstarter focuses exclusively on vacation rental properties in Spain’s popular tourist destinations. Unlike traditional real estate crowdfunding platforms, all investments are structured as mezzanine loans for debt-free properties (with no mortgages), providing a dual-income strategy that combines rental income with capital appreciation potential.
Initial Investment Phase
After investing, you immediately begin earning 5% annual interest while the property undergoes renovation. Your capital is productive from day one.
Rental Income Phase
Once renovations are complete, professional property managers list the property on platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com. Monthly rental income is distributed to investors, typically providing around 5.5% net rental yield.
Property Sale
While generating rental income, Brickstarter seeks potential buyers for the appreciated property. When sold, capital gains are distributed to investors, providing an additional return on investment.
Spanish Vacation Rental Market
Brickstarter specializes in properties located in Spain’s top tourist destinations like Alicante and Cadiz. The platform’s focus on short-term vacation rentals rather than traditional residential investments aims to capitalize on Spain’s robust tourism sector, potentially generating higher yields than conventional long-term rentals. All properties are carefully selected using data-driven analysis to identify locations with strong rental demand.
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Company Structure
Operational headquarters in Valencia, Spain, with legal entity (Brickstarter OĆ) registered in Estonia. This dual structure combines local market presence with Estonia’s supportive regulatory environment for fintech companies.
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Debt-Free Properties
All properties carry zero debt, meaning there are no mortgages or financial leverage, reducing risk and providing additional security for investors’ capital. The properties themselves serve as collateral.
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Payment Security
Uses Lemon Way, a regulated French payment institution, to handle all financial transactions. This provides an additional layer of security as funds are only released when investments are fully funded.
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Secondary Market
Offers a secondary marketplace that allows investors to sell their positions before the natural conclusion of an investment cycle, enhancing liquidity options for investors.
Standout Features
Data-driven property selection using advanced market analytics
Dual income: Monthly rental payments plus capital appreciation
Detailed property information including market studies and location maps
Platform invests alongside users, creating alignment of interests
Investment Calculator
Total Investment Value
Strategy Insight
Brickstarter’s vacation rental model typically performs best with a 2+ year investment horizon, allowing time for both rental income accumulation and property value appreciation.
Our Experience with Brickstarter
Our review team has been testing Brickstarter since 2022, evaluating its platform features, investment process, and performance across multiple property investments. Here’s our in-depth analysis of this vacation rental crowdfunding platform:
Testing Portfolio Results
Investment Performance
Our testing portfolio has performed generally in line with Brickstarter’s stated returns. The 9.8% realized return falls slightly below their advertised 10% average, but we found this variance acceptable given market fluctuations. What impressed us most was the consistency of monthly rental payments, which were deposited on schedule without interruption across all properties in our portfolio.
Notably, one property in Alicante exceeded expectations with an 11.3% return due to particularly strong summer rental demand, while a property in Cadiz slightly underperformed at 8.9% when factoring in a period of lower off-season occupancy. This highlights the importance of location and seasonal factors in vacation rental investments.
Vacation Rental Market Analysis
Brickstarter’s focus on short-term vacation rentals rather than traditional residential properties is a defining characteristic of the platform. This specialized approach targets properties that can be listed on popular booking platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com.
Geographic Distribution
Our analysis confirms Brickstarter’s strategic focus on Spain’s prime tourist destinations. Properties are concentrated in high-demand coastal areas and popular cities with strong vacation rental markets. This location strategy is supported by comprehensive data analytics to identify areas with optimal rental potential.
Tourism Market Performance
Spanish Tourism Trends
Spain remains one of the world’s top tourist destinations, with tourism recovering strongly post-pandemic. This robust tourism sector provides a solid foundation for vacation rental investments, though seasonal fluctuations and regional variations should be considered.
Higher Yield Potential
Short-term rentals typically generate higher yields than traditional long-term rentals in tourist destinations
Property Appreciation
Strategic locations in tourist hotspots often experience stronger property value growth
Diversification
Exposure to both the tourism sector and real estate market provides portfolio diversification
Key Risk Factors
- Seasonal Demand: Vacation rental income can fluctuate significantly between high and low seasons
- Regulatory Changes: Many cities are implementing stricter regulations on short-term rentals
- Tourism Dependency: Performance is closely tied to broader tourism trends and economic conditions
- Property Management: Effective property management is crucial for maintaining high occupancy rates
What We Like
- Data-driven approach to property selection with comprehensive market analytics
- Dual income strategy combining monthly rental income with capital appreciation
- Secondary market providing liquidity options for investors
- Secure payment processing through regulated Lemon Way service
- Professional management of all properties ensuring quality and maintenance
Areas for Improvement
- Limited number of available properties at any given time
- No auto-invest functionality for passive investors
- Some transparency concerns regarding performance metrics
- Geographic concentration limited to Spanish market
- Lemon Way payment system can sometimes create friction in user experience
Summary Assessment
Brickstarter offers a distinctive approach to real estate crowdfunding through its focus on vacation rental properties in Spain. The platform’s dual-income strategy, data-driven property selection, and debt-free investment structure create a compelling proposition for investors interested in the vacation rental market. Our testing confirms that the platform generally delivers on its promised returns around 10%, with consistent monthly rental payments.
The platform is best suited for investors with a medium-term horizon who appreciate the combination of regular income and potential capital appreciation. While the limited property selection and lack of auto-invest functionality may not appeal to all investors, the low entry point (ā¬50 minimum) and secondary market liquidity options enhance accessibility. For those looking to diversify their portfolio with exposure to Spanish vacation rentals, Brickstarter provides a specialized and generally reliable investment vehicle.
Platform Safety Analysis
Key Risk Factors
- Geographic concentration in Spanish vacation rental market
- Reliance on tourism sector performance
- Seasonal fluctuations in rental demand and income
- Limited number of available properties
- Potential regulatory changes affecting short-term rentals
Payment Security System
Lemon Way Payment Processing
Brickstarter uses Lemon Way, a French payment institution regulated by the ACPR (Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority), to handle all financial transactions. This creates an additional layer of protection for investor funds, as money is held in segregated accounts rather than directly by Brickstarter.
Account Funding
When you deposit funds, money goes to your personal wallet within Lemon Way rather than directly to Brickstarter, keeping your capital secure until you decide to invest.
Investment Release
Funds are only released from Lemon Way to Brickstarter when an investment opportunity is fully funded, providing protection against misappropriation.
Income Distribution
When rental income or capital gains are distributed, they are first transferred to your Lemon Way wallet before being withdrawn to your bank account.
Investment Structure
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All properties are debt-free with zero mortgages, reducing financial leverage risk
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Properties serve as collateral, providing tangible asset backing
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Investments structured as mezzanine loans with clear legal framework
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Returns dependent on vacation rental market performance
Market Risk Factors
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Geographic concentration in Spanish market
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Properties in established tourist destinations with proven rental demand
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Seasonal fluctuations in rental income
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Potential regulatory changes affecting short-term rentals
Platform Stability
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Operating since 2017 with established track record
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Reported 0% default rate on funded projects
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Platform invests alongside users, aligning interests
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Secondary market provides liquidity options
Pandemic Impact & Recovery
Like many tourism-focused platforms, Brickstarter faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic when global travel restrictions significantly impacted Spain’s tourism industry. During this period, rental income was affected, though the debt-free structure of properties helped mitigate financial pressure.
In the post-pandemic environment, we’ve observed that:
- Spanish tourism has rebounded strongly, with visitor numbers approaching or exceeding pre-pandemic levels
- New projects are coming online at a measured pace, with solid investor demand
- The platform has demonstrated resilience through a major market disruption
- Rental yields have normalized to their historical averages around 5.5%
This experience demonstrates both the vulnerability of tourism-dependent investments to external shocks and the potential for recovery in established markets with strong fundamentals.
Alignment of Interests
Co-Investment Strategy
One of Brickstarter’s notable risk mitigation features is their practice of investing alongside users in the properties offered on the platform. This “skin in the game” approach creates stronger incentives for thorough due diligence and effective property management, as the platform shares in both the risks and rewards of each investment.
Due Diligence Incentive
By investing their own capital, Brickstarter has strong motivation to conduct thorough market research and property evaluations
Performance Motivation
The platform benefits directly from strong rental performance and property appreciation, aligning with investor goals
Risk Sharing
Brickstarter assumes the same investment risks as platform users, creating mutual interest in risk management
Platform Interface
Main Dashboard
Clean, minimalist interface showing your portfolio summary and available properties
Property Detail View
Comprehensive information about each investment opportunity
Interactive Location Map
Visual representation of property locations with area information
Secondary Market
Interface for buying and selling investment positions
Property Listing Features
Market Analysis
Each property includes detailed market studies with rental demand analysis, occupancy rates for the area, and comparative property valuations.
Visual Content
Comprehensive visual documentation including professional photographs, videos, floor plans, and 360Ā° virtual tours when available.
Location Data
Interactive maps showing property location with proximity to key amenities, tourist attractions, transportation, and area characteristics.
Financial Projections
Detailed financial metrics including expected rental yield, historical area performance, projected appreciation, and comprehensive return calculations.
Investment Process
Property Notification
Registered users receive email notifications when new investment opportunities become available, allowing for timely decision-making.
Property Evaluation
Review comprehensive property information, location data, market analysis, and financial projections to make informed investment decisions.
Investment Execution
Select your investment amount (minimum ā¬50) and confirm your participation through the secure Lemon Way payment system.
Monitoring Performance
Track your investments through the dashboard with clear visibility of rental income, property status, and overall performance metrics.
Secondary Market Features
In March 2020, Brickstarter launched a secondary market (marketplace) that allows investors to sell their positions before the natural conclusion of an investment cycle. This feature significantly enhances liquidity options for users who might need to access their capital before a property is sold.
Secondary Market Process
List Position
Set Price
Wait for Buyer
Sale Execution
Fund Transfer
User Experience
Platform Strengths
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Specialized focus on vacation rental properties in prime Spanish tourist locations
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Dual income strategy with monthly rental payments plus capital appreciation
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Secondary market providing liquidity options for investors
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Secure Lemon Way payment system with segregated accounts
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Comprehensive market analysis and property information
Areas for Improvement
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Limited number of available properties at any given time
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No auto-invest functionality for passive investment
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Geographic concentration limited to Spanish market
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Some concerns about transparency of performance data
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Lemon Way payment system can sometimes create friction
Customer Support Experience
Email Support
General inquiries typically receive a response within 12-24 hours, with detailed and helpful information
Live Chat
Available during Spanish business hours (10am-6pm CET), providing quick answers to basic questions
Knowledge Base
Comprehensive FAQ section and educational resources explaining vacation rental investment model
Based on our testing and user feedback, Brickstarter’s customer support is generally responsive, though response times can vary during peak periods. The support team demonstrates good knowledge of Spanish real estate and vacation rental markets.
Recent User Reviews
“I’ve been investing with Brickstarter for over two years and have been consistently pleased with both the platform and returns. The monthly rental payments arrive reliably, and I appreciate the transparency in showing occupancy rates and property status. Recently sold one position on the secondary market when I needed funds, and the process was smooth.”
“The concept of investing in vacation rentals appealed to me as someone familiar with the Spanish market. My returns have been good (around 9.5% overall), though I wish there were more property options available. The renovation period for one property took longer than initially projected, but the quality of the final result was excellent. Customer service is responsive if not always immediate.”
“As someone interested in both real estate and the tourism sector, Brickstarter offers an excellent way to gain exposure to both markets. The property information is comprehensive, and I particularly value their market analysis that comes with each investment opportunity. The low minimum investment (ā¬50) allowed me to diversify across several properties. Rental income has been consistent, though obviously seasonal with tourism patterns.”
Getting Started
Create Your Account
Sign up on the Brickstarter website using your email address and create a secure password. The initial registration process takes just a few minutes to complete.
Complete KYC Verification
Upload the required identification documents and complete the verification process in accordance with AML regulations. This typically includes ID verification and proof of address.
Fund Your Account
Transfer funds to your personal Lemon Way wallet using one of the available payment methods. Funds remain in your wallet until you choose to invest them.
Start Investing
Browse available properties, review the detailed property information and market analysis, and select investments that match your strategy. The minimum investment amount is just ā¬50 per property.
Account Verification
Personal Information
- ā Full legal name
- ā Date of birth
- ā Current residential address
- ā Tax identification number
- ā Contact information (phone and email)
Required Documents
- ā Valid government-issued photo ID or passport
- ā Proof of address (utility bill, bank statement, etc.)
- ā Selfie with ID document (for identity verification)
Deposit Methods
Bank Transfer
Credit/Debit Card
Secondary Market
ā¹ļø Important Information
- Verification process typically takes 1-2 business days to complete
- All deposits are processed through Lemon Way payment service for added security
- Funds remain in your Lemon Way wallet until you actively invest them
- You will receive email notifications when new investment opportunities are available
- Available properties tend to fund quickly, so prompt action is recommended when new options are announced
Market Comparison
Platform Comparison
| Feature | Brickstarter | EstateGuru | Housers | Property Partner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investment Focus | Vacation Rentals | Development Loans | Mixed Real Estate | Rental Properties |
| Geographic Focus | Spain Only | Multiple EU Countries | Spain, Portugal, Italy | UK Only |
| Average Returns | 10% | 11.5% | 8% | 6-9% |
| Minimum Investment | ā¬50 | ā¬50 | ā¬50 | Ā£25 |
| Secondary Market | ā Free | ā 2% fee | ā 0.85% fee | ā 2% fee |
| Auto-Invest | ā | ā | ā | ā |
| Payment Security | Lemon Way | MangoPay | Standard | Standard |
| Monthly Income | ā | ā Bullet loans | ā Rentals only | ā |
What Makes Brickstarter Unique
Vacation Rental Focus
Exclusive specialization in short-term vacation rental properties listed on platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com
Dual Income Strategy
Combination of monthly rental income and potential capital appreciation when properties are sold
Debt-Free Properties
All properties carry zero debt or mortgages, reducing financial leverage risk
Co-Investment Model
Platform invests alongside users, creating alignment of interests and shared risk
Top Alternatives
EstateGuru Higher Returns
- ā Development and bridge loans
- ā Multiple countries (diversity)
- ā Auto-invest functionality
Housers Similar Markets
- ā Southern European focus
- ā Multiple property types
- ā Auto-invest available
Property Partner UK Market
- ā Direct property ownership
- ā FCA regulation (UK)
- ā IFISA tax wrapper option
Tax & Reporting
Tax Documents
Annual Income Statement
Comprehensive annual report detailing all rental income received and any capital gains from property sales during the tax year. Available for download in PDF format by January 31st.
Monthly Income Reports
Monthly statements showing all rental income distributed to your account, with property-by-property breakdown and occupancy information. Available in PDF and CSV formats.
Transaction History
Detailed transaction logs with filterable history of all account activities including investments made, income received, and secondary market transactions. Exportable in CSV format.
Reporting Features
Property Dashboard
Track performance metrics for each property in your portfolio
Notification System
Email alerts for income distributions and important updates
Performance Analytics
Visual representation of portfolio performance over time
Export Functionality
Export reports in multiple formats for record-keeping
Tax Considerations by Region
The taxation of income from Brickstarter investments varies by country. Here’s an overview of tax considerations for major markets:
Spain
- Rental income taxed as capital gains (savings base)
- Tax rates between 19% and 26% depending on amount
- Non-residents subject to 19% flat rate
- Double taxation agreements may apply
Other EU Countries
- Usually taxed as investment income
- Rates vary significantly by country
- Country of tax residence determines applicable rules
- Annual declaration typically required
International Investors
- Tax treatment depends on country of residence
- Double taxation treaties may provide relief
- Consider both rental income and capital gains
- Consult a tax professional in your jurisdiction
Important Considerations
- ā¢ Brickstarter does not withhold taxes – investors are responsible for declaring income
- ā¢ Dual income sources (rental + capital gains) may have different tax treatments
- ā¢ Secondary market transactions may trigger additional tax implications
- ā¢ Consult a tax professional for advice specific to your situation
Tax Documentation Tips
- ā¢ Download and save monthly income reports throughout the year
- ā¢ Keep records of all investments, including initial purchase and any sales
- ā¢ Use the platform’s export features to prepare for tax filing
- ā¢ Track currency conversion rates if applicable to your situation
Final Verdict
Key Takeaways
- Specialized platform focused on Spanish vacation rental properties with a dual income strategy
- Solid returns averaging 10% annually, combining monthly rental income and capital appreciation
- All properties are debt-free, reducing financial leverage risk
- Enhanced security through Lemon Way payment processing and platform co-investment
- Good secondary market for liquidity but limited property selection and geographic diversity
Recommended For
- Investors seeking exposure to the Spanish vacation rental market
- Those looking for a combination of regular income and capital appreciation
- Investors who value debt-free property investments
- Those comfortable with a 2+ year investment horizon
- Investors seeking low entry-point real estate investments (from ā¬50)
Not Suitable For
- Investors seeking geographic diversification beyond Spain
- Those who prefer fully automated passive investing
- Investors who need guaranteed immediate liquidity
- Those uncomfortable with tourism market volatility
- Investors looking for large portfolio allocation (limited property selection)
Concluding Assessment
Brickstarter represents an interesting option for investors seeking exposure to Spanish vacation rental properties through a structured, data-driven platform. Its focus on debt-free properties, dual income strategy, and relatively accessible minimum investment threshold create an attractive proposition for those interested in this specific segment of real estate crowdfunding.
The platform’s reported returns of approximately 10% annually position it competitively within the sector, while security measures like the Lemon Way payment system and the platform’s own co-investment provide additional layers of investor protection. The secondary market enhances liquidity options, addressing a common concern in real estate investments.
However, potential investors should carefully consider the platform’s limitations, including the geographic concentration in Spain, relatively limited selection of available properties, and lack of auto-invest functionality. The platform’s specialized focus on vacation rentals also means performance is closely tied to the tourism sector, which can experience seasonal fluctuations and sensitivity to broader economic conditions.
Brickstarter is best suited for investors looking to diversify their portfolio with exposure to Spanish vacation rental properties, who appreciate the dual income approach, and who can commit to a medium-term investment horizon of at least 2 years. For these investors, Brickstarter provides a specialized and generally reliable investment vehicle with attractive potential returns.
Ready to Invest in Spanish Vacation Rentals?
Start with as little as ā¬50
* Terms and conditions apply. Investment involves risk of capital loss. Past performance does not guarantee future returns. Always conduct your own due diligence before investing.
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