Savvy investors have long turned to real estate as a way to grow their investment portfolios.
Real estate can offer a blend of steady appreciation, predictable returns, tax advantages and natural protection against inflation over time.
Over the years as inflation has increased, the value of real estate properties has also continued to grow – making the sector an appealing investment opportunity.
Whether you have $10 or $100,000 to invest, there are many ways to grow your nest egg with real estate. Here are four different ways to invest in this asset class in 2026.
Fundrise Flagship Fund
Buy real estate through Fundrise's $1 billion private fund
Private real estate funds
Private real estate funds allow investors to gain exposure to valuable property assets without the hassles of direct ownership.
Such pooled capital typically offers investors access to institutional-quality real estate projects that would be difficult to acquire individually while potentially providing attractive returns and portfolio diversification.
The Fundrise Flagship Fund¹ is a $1.2 billion private real estate fund that lets you invest in an expertly crafted strategy without needing hundreds of thousands of dollars. You don’t need to be an accredited investor, and you can get started with as little as $10.
With 4,700+ single-family homes and 2,500+ residential units owned by the Fundrise Flagship Fund, you get exposure to institutional-style scale and diversification.
215 Interchange
Las Vegas, NV
Pine Ridge
Fountain Inn, SC
Omnia
Richmond Hill, GA
These are a few examples of properties powering the Fundrise Flagship Fund. For a full list of the Fundrise Flagship Fund's portfolio properties see the Flagship Fund website.
After you place your first investment, the Fundrise Flagship Fund will work to find and add new assets to your portfolio over time and send you transparent updates along the way.
It only takes a few minutes to sign up now and become a real estate investor today.
Fundrise Flagship Fund
Buy real estate through Fundrise's $1 billion private fund
Class B real estate
Class B real estate includes well-maintained, professionally managed properties that cater to middle-income renters and tenants. These assets typically offer strong fundamentals — good locations, stable occupancy and consistent cash flow — without the pricing premiums of newer, luxury developments.
What makes this segment especially compelling is its built-in resilience and balanced risk-return profile. Class B assets tend to perform steadily through market cycles, supported by a broad tenant base and sustained demand for quality, affordable space.
Residential
Columbus, OH
Industrial
Tobyhanna, PA
Residential
Beverly Hills, MI
These are a few examples of past properties or acquisitions from Lightstone. Explore more investment opportunities when you register with Lightstone DIRECT.
In times of volatility, they often benefit from renters “trading down” from higher-cost options, while limited new supply keeps vacancies in check.
Accredited investors can now tap into this opportunity through platforms such as Lightstone DIRECT, which gives you access to single-asset multifamily and industrial deals — with a minimum investment of $100,000.
Lightstone invests at least 20% of its own capital in every deal — roughly four times the industry average. With its skin in the game, the firm ensures its interests are directly aligned with those of its investors.
Explore investment opportunities with Lightstone DIRECT today.
Single-family rentals
Rental properties have long been a proven source of steady, passive income for investors. However, the time, effort and costs involved in managing and maintaining those properties can be a deterrent for many.
That's where Arrived comes in — making rental property investing easier and more accessible than ever before.
Backed by billionaire investor Jeff Bezos, Arrived is an online platform that allows you to invest in shares of rental homes and vacation rentals without the hassle of property management.
The Vanzant
Single Family Residential
$415K
Invested
1,294
Investors
The Smokey
Vacation Rental
$983K
Invested
1,748
Investors
The SuiteSpot
Vacation Rental
$1.2M
Invested
1,672
Investors
These are a few examples of properties from Arrived. Check out the full list of single family residential homes and vacation rentals currently available.
That means no more dealing with maintenance issues, tenant complaints or operational headaches. Instead, you can enjoy the potential for consistent income and diversify your investment portfolio with minimal effort.
Get started today with as little as $100.
Another option is a platform called mogul
The real estate investment platform offers fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties, which gives investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits without the need for a $250,000 down payment or 3 A.M. tenant calls.
Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, the team hand-picks the top 1% of single-family rental homes nationwide for you. Simply put, you can invest in institutional quality offerings for a fraction of the usual cost.
Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Their cash-on-cash yields, meanwhile, average between 10-12% annually. Each property undergoes a vetting process, requiring a minimum 12% return even in downside scenarios. With numbers like that, it's no wonder that offerings sell out in under three hours — with investments typically ranging between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.
Home equity
The $34.9 trillion U.S. home equity market has historically been reserved for large institutions — until now.
Homeshares allows accredited investors to gain direct exposure to a portfolio of owner-occupied homes in top U.S. cities through their U.S. Home Equity Fund — without the hassles of buying, owning or managing property.
The fund focuses on homes with substantial equity, using Home Equity Agreements (HEAs) to let homeowners access liquidity without taking on debt or interest payments. This creates an attractive, low-maintenance investment vehicle for retirement savers, with a minimum investment of $25,000.
Experts recommend adding alternative assets, such as real estate, to your retirement portfolio. Unlike stocks, they aren’t tied to market swings and can reduce concentration risk, while also providing a hedge against inflation as home values rise.
With risk-adjusted target returns of 14% to 17%, the U.S. Home Equity Fund offers investors access to America’s largest store of household wealth.
Join 20,000+ real estate investors today.
Optimizing your real estate investments
Investing wisely in real estate is only part of the equation in building your wealth.
To truly accelerate your net worth, you need expert guidance across all financial areas — and that’s where the trusted team of financial planners at Range can come in.
For high-earning professionals or households making over $300,000, Range offers a smart, streamlined way to manage your full financial life — especially your real estate investments.
Through a strategic partnership with Engineered Tax Services, Range members receive free cost segmentation analysis and discounted cost segmentation studies. Range advisors will then use the study as part of a member's tax planning and strategy.
Cost segmentation shortens depreciation timelines — from the standard 27.5 to 39 years down to just 5 to15 years — allowing you to claim significantly larger tax deductions sooner and keep more money in your pocket. Note that only investment properties qualify for segmentation studies.
Range also delivers proactive advice across your entire financial life — not just real estate or taxes
From stock options and tax strategies to real estate and big-picture planning, Range integrates it all under one roof. With a transparent, flat annual fee — no hidden costs or percentage-of-assets surprises — you get AI-powered insights and comprehensive guidance designed to scale with your wealth.
- Carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fundrise Flagship Fund before investing. This and other information can be found in the Fund’s prospectus. Read them carefully before investing. This marketing was vetted by the Moneywise team and sponsored by the Fundrise Flagship Fund.
Phil is a writer at Moneywise, bringing a strong background in public relations, financial communications and copywriting. Educated in Cambridge, U.K., he has created content for several blue-chip companies, combining clarity with strategic insight.
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