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When businesses expand, real estate benefits.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is publishing a final rule in January that will take a big step in making so-called crowdfunding a mainstream way for small businesses to raise money.

That’s important for real estate because one of the first things small businesses look at when they have capital to expand is their real estate needs. Should they lease or buy a bigger office, warehouse, manufacturing facility, or storefront?

How viable is crowdfunding as a capital source? Last year it was viable enough to generate $16 billion to small businesses. When you consider all venture capital funding in the U.S. last year was about $45 billion, according to some estimates, $16 billion is a huge piece.

Analysts predict crowdfunding is likely to get bigger once the SEC rule tales effect. They pointed out that individuals who invest money though a crowdfunding platform are not necessarily the same investors who put money into more typical Wall Street and other investment opportunities.