Contact

Menu

Article

"The real estate industry will benefit from tokenization"

Digitalization and, in particular, blockchain technology offer a number of new opportunities for investors, including in the real estate industry. But Professor Fabian Schär of the University of Basel, a blockchain and banking expert, cautions against overestimating its potential, as there are still some legal hurdles.

May 18, 2022

immobilien-markt.jpg

"I wanted to invest about CHF 300 in a multifamily house in Detroit through a US provider in 2019," says Professor Fabian Schär, Head of the Center for Innovative Finance at the University of Basel. "The technical process related to the token functioned seamlessly." But then came something that made Schär cancel the transaction: "There were around 150 pages of legal documents that I had to read and sign."

This example illustrates why tokenization has not yet made significant inroads in real estate. Usually the legal basis has not yet been defined or the processes related to the entry in the land register and transfer of ownership are not digitalized. Despite this disappointing experience, however, Fabian Schär is convinced that blockchain, as the underlying technology and tokenization have a lot of potential – potential that the real estate industry should certainly take advantage of. Both investors and those offering real estate investments could benefit.

A number of advantages

The tokenization of real estate is most often lauded for enabling transactions to be carried out automatically, i.e., without an intermediary or advisor, and much more quickly. Fabian Schär, however, cites transparency and the high level of security as key advantages. When these tokens, which represent ownership of a property, are traded via a public blockchain, the transaction is completely transparent for all participants.

In Schär's view, interoperability is the second important advantage . The tokens can, for example, be used as collateral in other financial protocols and benefit from the special features of open financial systems. Other advantages – such as the impact on diversification opportunities for investors – may be exciting but could also be achieved using other technologies. 

What is blockchain?

Several hurdles

It will be some time before all of these advantages are in place and are available as consistently functioning offerings for investors. The technical situation is significantly hampered by legal hurdles, as real estate occupies a unique legal position. While other tokens have to clarify issues related to safekeeping and the type of promise – e.g., tokens that represent a promise for the delivery of gold – the situation is clearer and the legal hurdles much lower than with real estate, which enjoys special protection, making the legal situation more challenging.

Fabian Schär maintains that it is also important that the various stakeholders use a shared, open blockchain approach rather than relying on their own private blockchain solutions. This is necessary for the market to reach critical mass and enable interoperability, which will allow the true advantages of blockchain to materialize.

How do decentralized finance and tokens work?

Centralized vs. decentralized

"Centralized databases can be very efficient. However, this also has the risk that those responsible for the centralized database will intervene for their own advantage," explains Fabian Schär. "There is also the problem that isolated data silos lack clarity, and the entries are difficult to aggregate or use in a comprehensive manner.

By contrast, with an open, completely decentralized system, no one can manipulate it, and all participants can follow the transactions or changes transparently." This transparency can counteract an economic phenomenon known as the hold-up problem, adds Schär, where a socially desirable result cannot be achieved because one party does not want to enter into a dependent relationship.

But Schär does not believe in fully automated transaction processing using real estate tokens. While many elements of the transaction can be governed by smart contracts and thus automated, the problem is that some data does not occur natively on the blockchain. Someone has to add this data, which can lead to certain dependencies and delays in the process.

In the blockchain world, there are so-called oracles that provide this external data. However, Fabian Schär is convinced tokenization has long-term potential for the real estate industry, even if there are still some hurdles that need to be overcome before it can happen on a large scale.

Professor Fabian Schär responds:

To the extent that this material contains statements about the future, such statements are forward looking and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and are not a guarantee of future results/performance. 

This material constitutes marketing material of Credit Suisse Group AG and/or its affiliates (hereafter "CS") and provides information on a strategy. This material does not constitute or form part of an offer or invitation to issue or sell, or of a solicitation of an offer to subscribe or buy, any securities or other financial instruments, or enter into any other financial transaction, nor does it constitute an inducement or incitement to participate in any product, offering or investment. This marketing material is not a contractually binding document or an information document required by any legislative provision. Nothing in this material constitutes investment research or investment advice and may not be relied upon. It is not tailored to your individual circumstances, or otherwise constitutes a personal recommendation, and is not sufficient to take an investment decision. The information and views expressed herein are those of CS at the time of writing and are subject to change at any time without notice. They are derived from sources believed to be reliable. CS provides no guarantee with regard to the content and completeness of the information and where legally possible does not accept any liability for losses that might arise from making use of the information. If nothing is indicated to the contrary, all figures are unaudited. The information provided herein is for the exclusive use of the recipient. The information provided in this material may change after the date of this material without notice and CS has no obligation to update the information. This material may contain information that is licensed and/or protected under intellectual property rights of the licensors and property right holders. Nothing in this material shall be construed to impose any liability on the licensors or property right holders. Unauthorised copying of the information of the licensors or property right holders is strictly prohibited. This material may not be forwarded or distributed to any other person and may not be reproduced. Any forwarding, distribution or reproduction is unauthorized and may result in a violation of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).