The launch of the Hacienda Cocuyo self-crowdlending campaign, offering up to 14% annual returns, is just around the corner! This is the perfect opportunity to answer the most frequently asked questions about this form of investment. If you’re wondering how it all works, how much you can earn, what the difference is between crowdlending and other forms of investing, and what the investment process looks like – this post is for you!

1. What is crowdlending? How is it related to crowdfunding?

Crowdlending is a type of crowdfunding with a more investment-oriented approach. In traditional crowdfunding, you contribute money to support a product idea and receive rewards, a pre-sale product at an attractive price, or shares in the company. In crowdlending, however, you provide a financial loan to help the borrower complete a project. Each loan follows established terms: a fixed duration, interest rate, and interest payment schedule. The main appeal of crowdlending is its relatively quick returns and higher earnings compared to other investment forms.

In summary, crowdlending is an attractive alternative to traditional investment forms, directly connecting individuals who want to invest their savings with companies in need of capital for development.

2. What is the difference between crowdlending and equity crowdfunding?

In crowdlending, the investor lends money to a company or project for a specified period and receives interest according to a set schedule. At the end of the investment, the principal is returned. The investor does not gain shares in the company but earns from the interest on the loan.

In equity crowdfunding, investors buy shares in a company or project, becoming co-owners. Returns depend on the company’s growth, and payouts occur only after selling the shares or receiving dividends. Equity crowdfunding carries higher risks and potentially longer waiting periods for returns, but it also offers greater profit opportunities if the company succeeds.

3. Is this investment safe?

Like any form of investment, crowdlending involves risk and loan repayment is not guaranteed. However, Hacienda Cocuyo’s loan is strongly secured by a notarial promissory note, known as a pagare notarial.

An additional advantage is the strong financial backing of the borrower. The Samana Group, one of the largest developers and landowners on the Samaná Peninsula, owns 4,000 hectares of land on which it is developing luxury residential properties. The value of the Hacienda Cocuyo hotel, including both the business and the land, is $5 million, adding to the reliability and security of the investment.

4. How does the loan security work?

In the Hacienda Cocuyo campaign, we provide strong loan security in the form of a Dominican notarial promissory note, known as pagare notarial (you can read more about this HERE)

The pagare notarial is a notarized document in which the debtor submits to enforcement against all their assets without the need for court proceedings. If the debtor fails to meet their obligations, an enforceable title is issued with a notarial certification in the document’s header. Once the payment deadline has passed, you can approach law enforcement authorities, particularly the enforcement division of the prosecutor’s office, to recover your funds. This type of security can also be enforced from bank accounts or funds owed to the debtor by third parties. The recovery process is much faster than with mortgages or court judgments.

5. What does “up to 14% return” mean? How much can I actually earn?

The “up to 14%” return means that the maximum annual return you can achieve in our campaign is 14%. The interest rate varies depending on the amount you invest – the higher the loan, the greater the return.

Here’s the earnings structure for the Hacienda Cocuyo campaign based on investment amounts:

• For loans starting from $12,000 – you’ll earn 12% annual return + 2% bonus, totaling 14% over 12 months.
• For loans starting from $6,000 – you’ll earn 12% annual return + 1% bonus, totaling 13% over 12 months.
• For loans starting from $250 – you’ll earn 12% annual return over 12 months, without any bonus.

6. When and how will I receive interest?

Interest on the Hacienda Cocuyo loan is paid quarterly, meaning you’ll receive a portion of the profits every three months in your bank account, which you will specify in the agreement. The first interest payment will be made four months after the loan start date, and the full return of the principal, along with the final interest payment, will be made after 12 months.

Here’s the interest payment schedule:

• February 17, 2025 – first interest payment,
• May 15, 2025 – second interest payment,
• August 15, 2025 – third interest payment,
• November 17, 2025 – final interest payment, along with the principal repayment.

With this system, you’ll receive regular profits, and the full return on your investment will occur after one year.

7. What happens after 12 months? Can I extend my investment?

You cannot extend your investment within this crowdlending campaign, but we invite you to take advantage of another, similar investment opportunity – a convertible loan. More information can be found HERE.

Additionally, as Samana Group, we plan to continue the crowdlending path, which supports the development of our projects while providing our investors with quick returns. This is already our fourth campaign, and we plan more in the future. Follow our newsletter to avoid missing new opportunities to reinvest your funds through crowdlending.

8. What experience do you have with crowdlending campaigns?

Samana Group has successfully completed three crowdlending campaigns, each of which exceeded its financial target, and all investors received their profits according to the declared schedule.

In June 2023, we debuted on the Crowder.pro crowdlending platform. In just a few days, we exceeded the financial target by 66%. Every quarter, our investors received timely interest payments, and on July 31 of this year, they received the full return of their investment. In October 2023, we conducted our second campaign, once again on the Crowder.pro platform, where we broke a record, achieving 242% funding! Investors who participated have already received two rounds of interest payments according to the schedule. At the end of April and May this year, we launched our first self-crowdlending campaign. Once again, we earned the trust of our investors, which we rewarded with the first interest payment.

Samana Group’s trusted technological partner for crowdlending campaigns is Crowder SA, the leader in crowdlending in Poland.

9. What is the administrative and financial situation of Hacienda Cocuyo? Is this a safe project?

Hacienda Cocuyo is a well-established eco-hotel that has been operating since 2009, founded by Victor Estevez from Spain as a family business. Today, it is co-owned by Samana Group, one of the largest developers in the region, developing the private town of Nomad City in its immediate vicinity, which further increases the investment appeal.

Hacienda Cocuyo has a clear ownership structure and no debt. The current valuation of the hotel, including both the business and the property, is $5 million. It is a profitable establishment, generating $1.1 million in annual revenue. As much as 60% of bookings are direct, which reflects a strong brand and guest loyalty, as confirmed by high ratings:

• 8.6 on Booking.com
• 8.8 on Expedia
• 4.6 on Google Reviews
• 4.5 on TripAdvisor

The hotel currently has 23 rooms, with an additional 20 under construction. Guests also have access to a 50-seat restaurant and recreational facilities such as a yoga room, game room, and two pools. A gym with an ice bath and sauna is also under construction. Additionally, Hacienda Cocuyo offers yacht excursions with 4 cabins.

10. What is the investment process?

The entire investment process is 100% online and can be completed in just a few minutes. All you need to do is create an account on our platform and verify it according to the instructions using an SMS code. When the campaign is launched, you can make an investment by transferring funds directly from your bank account to the designated escrow account, which is managed by the platform operator.

Do you have more questions? Don’t hesitate to ask them in the comments – we’re here to help! Be sure to sign up for the campaign on the website to avoid missing the launch.