Access to a Delaware Statutory Trust begins with a single gatekeeping question: does the prospective investor meet the accredited investor standard? The definition is specific, and it differs for individuals and entities.

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The Individual Test

For individuals, the standard most commonly cited in DST contexts requires a net worth exceeding $1,000,000, with an important caveat: the primary residence is excluded from that calculation. The equity in a home, even a fully owned one, does not count toward the threshold.

These definitions are not unique to any one sponsor or marketplace. They reflect the IRS and SEC standards that DST investment frameworks are built around.

The Two Entity Routes

For entities such as a family LLC, revocable trust, corporation, or partnership, the standard operates differently. An entity qualifies through either of two routes:

  • Asset-based: the entity holds gross assets exceeding $5 million
  • Ownership-based: every owner of the entity individually meets the accredited investor criteria

The ownership-based route is particularly relevant for investors who hold appreciated real estate through an LLC or family trust. An entity whose underlying owners each independently meet the individual standard will typically qualify even if the entity's standalone asset base does not cross the $5 million gross asset threshold. Documentation requirements differ between the two routes, so investors considering subscription through an entity should confirm the qualification pathway with legal counsel.

A Floor, Not a Profile

The threshold is a floor, not a target demographic. Typical DST marketplace investors have historically held net worths ranging broadly from $2 million to $20 million: accredited by a meaningful margin rather than a narrow one, for whom the illiquidity of a DST is a manageable feature rather than a structural risk. Sufficient net worth to absorb illiquidity matters, since DST investments are not redeemable on demand.

Investors who believe they meet either test can confirm status through the verification process via the partnered broker-dealer's intake.