Leaving €100,000 sitting in a bank account is one of the most expensive decisions there is: with inflation, every year that money buys less. The question isn't whether to invest it, but where and at what risk. This guide walks through the real options for a portfolio this size — no hype, no promises of returns.
The options on the table
There's no single answer: it depends on how much risk you tolerate, when you'll need the money and how involved you want to be. Broadly, these are the routes for €100,000:
| Option | Indicative return | Liquidity | Management | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savings account / deposit | 1–3% a year | High | None | Very low |
| Stocks and index funds | Variable (historic ~6–8%) | High | Low–medium | Medium–high |
| Buying a flat to rent out | 3–6% + capital gain | Very low | High (tenants, works) | Medium |
| Online real estate (deals) | Estimated return per deal | Low (during the term) | None | Medium |
Why real estate still makes sense with €100,000
Property has an appeal that's hard to replicate for a portfolio this size:
- It's a tangible asset backed by a real building, not by an expectation.
- It usually has real collateral (the property itself), which cushions risk versus other products.
- It diversifies your wealth beyond stocks and deposits.
- It fits medium-term horizons, without the daily volatility of listed markets.
Investing in real estate without buying (or managing) a flat
Buying a flat with €100,000 ties you to a single deal, in a single city, with notary fees, taxes, renovations and tenants. The alternative that has grown in recent years is to invest online in specific real estate operations: you put in part of the capital of a hand-picked project and share in its outcome, without handling anything operational.
The difference between platforms comes down to one detail worth checking: does whoever runs the deal also put in their own money? When the manager co-invests their capital in every project, their interests are aligned with yours — they win if you win. That's exactly Invernova's model: we co-invest our own capital in every operation we open.
5 things to check before putting in a euro
- 01LTV (Loan-to-Value): what share of the property's value the capital at risk represents. Lower means more cushion.
- 02The collateral: whether there's real property backing the operation.
- 03The term: how long your money will be locked up (typically 12–24 months in buy-refurbish-sell deals).
- 04Who manages it and whether they co-invest: the best signal of aligned interests.
- 05Transparency and track record: already-closed operations with real published results.
An example: how it works with Invernova
At Invernova we hand-pick specific real estate operations —usually buying, improving and selling a property— and open participation to investors. Each listing shows what matters before you decide:
- Estimated return and estimated term of the operation.
- LTV and type of collateral.
- How much Invernova co-invests with its own capital.
- Minimum participation from €25,000.
- Step-by-step tracking of the operation's progress.
Risks you should be clear about
Investing in real estate —directly or through operations— is not risk-free:
- Your capital is at risk: you may get back less than you invested.
- It's an illiquid investment: the money is locked up for the operation's term.
- The return is estimated, not guaranteed, and depends on the operation closing as planned.