Put property in your portfolio with these 10 best real estate investing platforms—whether through fractional ownership, REIT ETFs, or crowdfunding.
Real estate investing platforms make it easier to invest in real estate without buying property outright. Owning property typically requires a large down payment, ongoing maintenance, and. These hurdles put traditional real estate investing out of reach for many.
But that hasn’t stopped people from wanting in: Over 35% of Americans say real estate is the best long-term investment, beating out stocks, gold and savings accounts.1
Whether you’re looking for passive income, long-term growth, or a way to diversify your portfolio, real estate investing platforms offer a simpler path. Here are some of the best options available right now.
Best real estate investing platforms
- Alternative assets & real estate investing (crowdfunding): Yieldstreet
- Passive real estate portfolio builder (crowdfunding): Fundrise
- Accredited investor real estate deals (crowdfunding): EquityMultiple
- Global brokerage with REIT ETF access: Interactive Brokers
- Full-service brokerage for REIT investing: Fidelity
- Micro-Investing with real estate exposure: Acorns
- Hands-off rental property investing (fractional ownership): Ark7
- Vacation & single-family rental shares (fractional ownership): Arrived
- Turnkey rental property marketplace (fractional ownership): Roofstock
- Commercial real estate & REIT investing (fractional ownership): RealtyMogul
Best real estate crowdfunding platforms
One of the biggest innovations in modern real estate investing is "crowdfunding," where investors "pool" their money into different property deals. Typically, a centralized platform takes care of all the legal paperwork to manage these funds and invest in properties, but they give investors passive returns and price appreciation. The obvious benefit of this model is it lowers the capital requirement to get involved in real estate, dramatically increasing accessibility to retail investors.
Alternative assets & real estate investing (crowdfunding): Yieldstreet
- Investment type offered: Crowdfunded real estate, private credit, private equity, art, crypto, transportation, venture capital, and short-term notes.
- Minimum Investment: $10,000
- Fees: Listing and management fees apply and vary per investment
- Accredited investor requirement: No
- SEC registered: Yes
- Expected returns: 7.4% net annual returns
- Holding period: 3 months to 5+ years
- Dividend payout: Depends on provider
Why we chose Yieldstreet:
YieldStreet broke onto the scene in 2015 offering investors access to crowdfunded real estate offerings, particularly residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties. However, this platform distinguishes itself in the real estate game with its treasure trove of other alternative assets. Beyond investing in real estate deals, people with a YieldStreet account can access dozens of other alternative investments, including cryptocurrency, art, venture capital, and private credit. This makes YieldStreet a great "one-stop-shop" for all alt asset categories.
However, only accredited investors can take advantage of the majority of YieldStreet's offerings. Non-accredited investors can only buy shares in the Alternative Income Fund, which contains a mix of different assets that YieldStreet's team manages.
Pros and cons
Pros
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Wide range of assets: Accredited investors on YieldStreet can diversify their portfolios with many alternative offerings.
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Offers some liquidity: Some short-term note offerings are available for sale within a few months rather than years.
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Solid track record: YieldStreet has been around since 2015 and now manages $6 billion in investor funds.2
Cons
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Primarily for accredited investors: Although non-accredited investors can buy into the Alternative Income Fund, they have limited options.
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High minimum: The $10,000 minimum is higher than competitors.
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Fewer real estate deals: Compared to more real estate-centric platforms, YieldStreet has fewer deals.
Passive real estate portfolio builder (crowdfunding): Fundrise
- Investment type offered: Real estate, private credit, and venture capital
- Minimum investment: $10 (or $1,000 for IRA)
- Fees: 15% annual advisory fee and 0.85% annual asset management fees
- Accredited investor requirement: No
- SEC registered: Yes
- Expected returns: Depends on years and fund type
- Holding period: Five years
- Dividend payout: Quarterly
Why we chose Fundrise:
Fundrise is arguably the best platform for beginners in real estate investing. Why? First, it's easy for non-accredited investors to get started with a Fundrise account thanks to its low $10 minimum and easy-to-use mobile apps. You also have many options to put your money to work on Fundrise thanks to different funds like the Fundrise Income Fund for consistent yields and the Fundrise Flagship Fund for a balance of income and growth.
As a bonus, you could invest outside of real estate on Fundrise with new products like pre-IPO tech companies and private credit. Add a track record dating back to 2012, and Fundrise will probably remain a fan favorite for years.3
*We earn a commission for this endorsement of Fundrise.
Pros and cons
Pros
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Accessible minimum: You only need $10 to start investing on Fundrise.
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Transparent Fees: Many of Fundrise’s funds have a flat yearly fee of 1%.4
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Offers other alternative assets: Fundrise now has assets outside of real estate for greater diversity, including private credit and venture capital.
Cons
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Withdrawal penalties: Watch out for early withdrawal penalties on some of Fundrise’s eREITs and eFunds.5
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Can’t choose properties: While Fundrise offers many funds, you can’t choose the specific properties in these products.
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Lacks phone support: Currently, Fundrise only offers email and chat support, and it could take 1 to 2 business days to hear back.
Accredited investor real estate deals (crowdfunding): EquityMultiple
- Investment type offered: Real estate funds, alternatives to savings, and direct commercial real estate investments
- Minimum investment: $5,000
- Fees: Vary by investment type, 1% annual asset management fee on equity investment, or $250 per year based on investment structure
- Accredited investor requirement: Yes
- SEC registered: Yes
- Expected returns: 7% to 12%
- Holding period: 5 to 7 years
- Dividend payout: Depends on investment type
Why we chose EquityMultiple:
EquityMultiple is like the VIP lounge of crowdfunded real estate investing. This accredited-only platform connects approved investors with vetted commercial real estate deals, including opportunities in equity, preferred equity, and debt investments. Since its 2015 founding, EquityMultiple has distributed $478 million to its clients, and it offers several ways to tailor your investment strategy.6
For instance, EquityMultiple has categories specifically for consistent yield (e.g., Alpine Notes) or price appreciation potential (e.g., Grow Investments). While not as accessible as Fundrise or YieldStreet, EquityMultiple offers a convenient portal for accredited investors interested in commercial real estate's benefits.
Pros and cons
Pros
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Growth and yield strategies: It’s easy to distinguish EquityMultiple’s strategies whether investors want income or growth potential.
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Long history: Established in 2015, EquityMultiple has a solid track record for delivering millions to clients.
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Competitive average yields: Advertised APYs for income opportunities are often higher than public REITs.
Cons
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Accredited only platform: Retail investors can’t take advantage of EquityMultiple’s offerings.
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Poor online reviews: EquityMultiple has no BBB accreditation and poor reviews on TrustPilot.7
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No mobile app: Doesn’t offer a convenient way to invest on smartphones.
Best platforms that offer REIT ETFs
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) aren't as flashy as fractional shares or crowdfunding, but some find they're the most accessible way into real estate — particularly in exchange-traded fund (ETF) form. You could think of REIT ETFs as shares in a managed pool of properties. Some platforms offer private REITs with off-the-market assets, but the more commonly traded REIT ETFs are on the public market. Since these public REITs have to go through the SEC's regulations, they're extremely transparent. Public REIT ETFs are diversified and liquid, but they may not offer the same growth as private deals.
Global brokerage with REIT ETF access (REIT ETFs): Interactive Brokers
- Investment type offered: Commodities, futures, forex, options, stocks, ETFs, crypto, hedge funds, private equity and foreign stocks
- Minimum investment: $0
- Fees: Varies by asset and account
- Accredited investor requirement: No
- SEC registered: Yes
- Expected returns: Market-dependent
- Holding period: None
- Dividend payout: Quarterly
Why we chose Interactive Brokers:
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) has been a leading brokerage firm since the late 1970s, particularly with active traders who love charting patterns and complex financial vehicles. However, you don't have to be a technical analyst to get a lot out of this brokerage. If you're solely interested in REIT ETFs, you'll have plenty of options with an IBKR account, plus all of the advanced trading tools and low-cost commissions this site is known for. IBKR also shines with its extensive research tools to help you better understand your investment options and how they fit into your financial life.
If you want the most sophistication and choice in your trading — including REIT ETF shares — IBKR may be the solution.Pros
Pros and cons
Pros
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Reputable and liquid brokerage: Since its start in 1978, IBKR has become a renowned brand with global liquidity.
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Wide range of assets: Beyond multiple REIT ETFs, IBKR offers a way into multiple asset categories ranging from stocks to crypto.
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Technical trading tools: IBKR is ideal for traders who want the most information, charting data, and strategic order types to pinpoint their positions.
Cons
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Not REIT-specific: Although IBKR has REIT ETFs, it’s not solely focused on the real estate sector.
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Intimidating for beginners: People new to self-directed investing often deal with a higher learning curve.
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Complex fee structure: While fees on IBKR are competitive, they are nuanced and differ between different assets and account types.
Full-service brokerage for REIT investing (REIT ETFs): Fidelity
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- Investment type offered: REITs, stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, crypto, precious metals, bonds, CDs and options.
- Fees: $0 commissions, options trade subject to a per-contract fee
- Accredited investor requirement: No
- SEC registered: Yes
- Holding period: None
- Dividend payout: Quarterly
Why we chose Fidelity:
Along with behemoths like Blackrock, Fidelity is one of the world's biggest asset managers with trillions under management.8 While Fidelity has its hands in many markets, real estate is one area of special interest where investors may find enticing opportunities. In fact, Fidelity has a few proprietary mutual funds and ETFs in the REITs segment. If you aren't keen on what's in Fidelity's commission-free REIT offerings, you could also use their brokerage to browse other opportunities and add them to your portfolio — many of which are available as fractional shares.
Anyone looking for REITs (and plenty of other assets) from a mega brand will probably enjoy investing through Fidelity.
Pros and cons
Pros
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Commission-free ETFs: You’ll save significantly on fees for US-based stocks and ETFs.
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Multiple REITs to choose: You can choose from one of Fidelity’s mutual funds, ETFs, or specialized funds, as well as other REITs on the stock market.
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Tax-advantaged integrations: Use accounts like an IRA or 401(k) to invest through Fidelity to take advantage of tax benefits.
Cons
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Limited global REIT access: Fidelity provides strong access to US-based REITs, but its international REIT offerings aren’t as extensive as platforms like IBKR.
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Sometimes includes fees: A few non-Fidelity-backed REIT mutual funds may carry expense ratios or transaction fees.
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No direct ownership options: You can’t pick and choose specific properties or deals with a Fidelity account.
Micro-investing with real estate exposure (REIT ETFs): Acorns
- Investment type offered: Automated portfolios of ETFs, including ESG, REITs and Bitcoin
- Minimum investment: $5
- Fees: Monthly subscription, expense ratios and transfer fees
- Accredited investor requirement: No
- SEC registered: Yes
- Expected returns: Market-dependent; no guarantees
- Holding period: None
- Dividend payout: Auto-reinvested; ETF dependant
Why we chose Acorns:
Acorns has built its big reputation on "micro-investing." Since 2014, this wealth-building website has helped investors automatically put small amounts (and even spare change) into managed investment accounts over the long haul. Since Acorns takes care of all the investing decisions, this is ideal for beginners who don't have the time or energy to choose assets in their portfolio. To provide the most predictability and liquidity, Acorns tends to focus on ETFs, which includes access to some REITs. While this won't allow you to buy REITs directly, you will get some exposure to the sector in your Acorns investment account.
Pros and cons
Pros
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Hands-off platform: Acorns appeals to investors who want a robo advisor to take care of fund management.
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Diversified offerings: Besides REIT ETFs, you’ll enjoy exposure to other investment opportunities like major indexes and Bitcoin.
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Banking services: As a member of Acorns, users get easy access to products and services like a debit card.
Cons
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Minimal investment control: You can specify your risk preferences, but Acorns doesn’t let you choose the specific assets in your portfolio.
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Recurring subscription fees: Weigh the benefits of Acorns’ automation against the continuous monthly subscription fees.
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Potentially smaller gains: The focus on “squirreling” away tiny bits of cash — along with wide diversification — may lead to lower overall returns.
Best platforms that offer fractional ownership of rental properties
Another way real estate investing has become more attainable is through "fractional ownership" rights. This works similarly to crowdfunding, but each investor gets a "share" of a property, similar to owning equity in a company. In other words, you become a "co-owner" of a residential or commercial property, but you don't have all those annoying landlord responsibilities. Often, these "shares" in property deals reward stakeholders with dividends, which rise or fall depending on the market value of the underlying property.
Hands-off rental property investing (fractional ownership): Ark7
- Investment type offered: Single-family homes, multi-family units and short-term rental properties
- Minimum investment: $20
- Fees: Sourcing fee and asset management fee
- Accredited investor requirement: No
- SEC registered: Yes
- Expected returns: 4.5%
- Holding period: Varies by property
- Dividend payout: Monthly
Why we chose Ark7:
With a 2018 launch, Ark7 is a relative newcomer to the real estate investment space, but it has become increasingly popular with beginners. A significant reason Ark7 attracts people getting started in real estate investment is its low barrier to entry at just $20. With this low minimum, you can buy a share in one of Ark7's residential properties, similar to fractional ownership on competitors like Arrived. Most of these shares represent ownership in individual single-family homes and multi-family units, and they reward investors with monthly passive income.
The hands-off nature of Ark7's model makes it ideal for passive investors who want a simple and affordable way into real estate investment.
Pros and cons
Pros
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Low minimum: A big selling point for Ark7 is its low starting price of just $20 for a share.
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Beginner-friendly: The layout on Ark7’s desktop and mobile app make it simple to sign up, review opportunities, and create a portfolio.
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Transparent info: Ark7 makes it easy to see all of a real estate deal’s specifications before making a selection.
Cons
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Shorter track record: There isn’t as much data on Ark7’s performance versus competitors.
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High fees: The sourcing and management fees can be high compared to other platforms.
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Limited customer support: Currently, Ark7 handles most inquiries via email, and you have to schedule up a 1-on-1 chat in advance.
Vacation & single-family rental shares (fractional ownership): Arrived
- Investment type offered: Single-family residential, vacation homes, real estate debt and funds
- Minimum investment: $100
- Fees: Assets under management (AUM) fees and Professional Oversight of Expense Management
- Accredited investor requirement: No
- SEC registered: Yes
- Expected returns: 6 to 10% annual
- Holding period: 5 to 15 years
- Dividend payout: Monthly
Why we chose Arrived Homes:
Arrived Homes generated a buzz thanks to one very famous backer: Amazon's Jeff Bezos. While Bezos's star power gave this brand a publicity boost, more people have been getting interested in Arrived in its own right features like an easy-to-use interface and multiple fractional real estate offerings.
On Arrived, retail investors can choose from vacation rentals and single-family residential homes in different states, some of which have minimums as low as $100. While Arrived isn't as established as other names, it has BBB accreditation, and it has already paid out $12 million in dividends and invested close to $250 million. People who want an accessible real estate platform with the option to choose specific properties are typically the best fit for Arrived Homes.
Pros and cons
Pros
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Accessibility: Non-accredited investors only need $100 to get started on Arrived.
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User-friendly platform: It’s easy to scroll through Arrived’s offerings, and the company now offers an iOS app.
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Rental income: Arrived Homes focuses on properties that provide consistent yield.
Cons
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Long time commitment: Most properties on Arrived have a 5 to 15 years maturation period.
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Relatively new: Launched in 2019, Arrived Homes doesn’t have the same size or history as its competitors
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Fees: There are multiple fees to consider, including Professional Oversight of Expense Management and AUM.
Turnkey rental property marketplace (fractional ownership): Roofstock
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- Investment type offered: Single-family rentals
- Minimum investment: $5,000
- Fees: One-time transaction fee, typically 0.5% of the contract price
- Accredited investor requirement: No
- SEC registered: No
- Expected returns: Varies by property
- Holding period: 5 years
- Dividend payout: Quarterly
Why we chose Roofstock:
Roofstock is all about streamlining the transfer process for one asset: single-family rentals (SFRs). Investors who set up a Roofstock account get access to a list of vetted, tenant-occupied properties throughout the USA to start earning cash flows on day one. And don't worry if you don't want to manage these properties directly — you can easily take advantage of Roofstock's multi-state property management team powered by the tech company Mynd. Roofstock also offers a hands-off approach to real estate investing through its accredited-only "Roofstock One," where approved users own fractional shares in an SFR portfolio.
Roofstock is ideal for investors who want passive income streams from vetted rental properties and prefer working through a convenient online platform.
Pros and cons
Pros
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Flat one-time fee: To invest in a home on Roofstock, you only pay once upfront (either $500 or 0.5%).
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Open to non-accredited: Although Roofstock One is accredited-only, retail investors can put money into Roofstock’s other offerings.
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Property management team: Roofstock investors can use the built-in property management team to handle issues at their investments.
Cons
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Solely single-family homes: Those who aren’t interested in single-family homes won’t like Roofstock’s narrow focus.
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Not as passive: If you don’t use Roofstock’s management service or Roofstock One, you’ll have to be more proactive hiring managers and responding to tenants.
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Liquidity concerns: Selling a property on Roofstock can take time, especially if investor demand is low.
Commercial real estate & REIT investing (fractional ownership): RealtyMogul
- Investment type offered: REITs, 1031 exchange properties, and individual properties
- Minimum investment: $5,000
- Fees: Upfront fee, annual asset management, disposition fee and servicing fee
- Accredited investor requirement: No
- SEC registered: Yes
- Expected returns: Varies depending on product
- Holding period: 3 to 5 years
- Dividend payout: Monthly or quarterly
Why we chose RealtyMogul:
Interested in concentrating capital into commercial real estate? RealtyMogul might be an attractive platform. Since 2012, this site has focused on connecting investors with vetted commercial real estate through REITs or private deals. Non-accredited investors can choose between RealtyMogul's managed REITs, which are split into different categories depending on whether investors want yield (e.g., the Income REIT) or price appreciation (e.g., the Apartment Growth REIT). For accredited investors, you could use RealtyMogul to invest in equity for properties around the USA and 1031 exchanges.
The wide range of opportunities combined with RealtyMogul's long history makes it a solid choice for those interested in the possibilities of commercial real estate.
Pros and cons
Pros
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Multiple commercial properties: There are real estate deals on RealtyMogul across numerous commercial sectors in the USA.
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Long history: RealtyMogul has handled millions of dollars since 2012, and it has a tried-and-true vetting process.
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Phone support: There are clear lines of communication with RealtyMogul via phone and email.
Cons
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REITs aren’t liquid: Although RealtyMogul has a repurchase program, its REITs aren’t as liquid as public REIT shares.
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Fees: From servicing to disposition, there are quite a few fees to consider depending on the investment on RealtyMogul.
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No control for non-accredited: While non-accredited investors can use RealtyMogul, they don’t enjoy as much customization.
Which real estate investment is right for you?
Thanks to the many real estate trading sites now available, you don't have to put out as much capital (or as much energy) to manage an entire property. However, there are a few distinctions between crowdfunding, fractional ownership, and REIT ETFs that could sway you toward one of these options.
Although real estate is generally considered "low risk," there are degrees of risk depending on each offering's transparency and history. For instance, public REITs often have long track records and meet high regulatory compliance standards. "Medium risk tolerance" refers to assets that could have greater market fluctuations and longer holding periods, which fits fractional shares in real estate where investors have lower diversification but higher potential rewards. High risk investments are for those who are okay with greater uncertainty but possibly higher returns. Crowdfunded real estate could have a higher risk profile because managers may take a more hands-on approach and there's usually not as much transparency as with a public REIT.
Compare real estate crowdfunding platforms
If you're still unsure how to get involved in real estate, consider these broad features of each category and how they align with your investment goals.
VNQ and USRT REITs ETF vs LDQ bonds performance over the last 5 years
While there's wide variability in how real estate investments perform depending on what and how you invest, we can get a sense of this group's performance by looking at a few major ETFs versus the price of another "reliable" asset class: bonds.
Over the past five years, iShares iBoxx Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (LQD) dropped by about 10% in value (excluding dividends). By comparison, the VNQ — Vanguard's Real Estate ETF — rose by 80%. The iShares Core US REIT ETF (USRT) also fared better than bonds in price appreciation, with a 15.66% gain over 5 years.
Keep in mind that real estate investors also received dividends throughout this time, which compounds their gains. While this suggests real estate offers more significant potential for price outperformance, it's still not considered as reliable as high-quality government or corporate bonds for steady income.
Methodology: How we chose the best real estate crowdfunding sites
In our quest to identify the premier real estate crowdfunding platforms, we meticulously evaluated the sector, focusing on a myriad of factors and metrics. Key elements of our analysis included the criteria for accreditation, the thresholds for minimum investments, the structure of pricing and fees, historical performance, and the variety of investment options available.
It's critical to remember that the policies of real estate platforms can shift without notice, and historical success is not a reliable predictor of future results.
The realm of real estate investing presents its own set of risks and opportunities, making it an appealing option for many investors but less so for others. Prior to committing your finances to these or any crowdfunding platforms within the real estate sector, it's advisable to thoroughly examine the associated costs, the methodologies behind investment selections, and the prerequisites for investors.
More: How to invest in real estate: A beginner's guide
FAQs
With files from Larry Ludwig
Chris Clark is freelance contributor with MoneyWise, based in Kansas City, Mo. He has written for numerous publications and spent 18 years as a reporter and editor with The Associated Press.
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