Best real estate crowdfunding sites for 2023
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We adhere to strict standards of editorial integrity to help you make decisions with confidence. Please be aware that some (or all) products and services linked in this article are from our sponsors.
Real estate crowdfunding sites enable investors to join together for real estate investments. Some work with investment funds where a team of expert investors buys and manages a real estate portfolio. Others give investors a menu of direct real estate investments to choose from.
When you’re considering a crowdfunded real estate platform, it’s important to review factors like past performance, investment strategies, and fees. You'll also want to consider whether the platform requires you to be an accredited investor to participate.
Here’s a closer look at the best real estate crowdfunding sites so you can make the right choice for your portfolio.
The best real estate crowdfunding sites
| Platform | Best for | Accreditation requirement | Minimum investment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fundrise | Beginner Investors | No | $10 |
| RealtyMogul | REIT & private deals | No | $5,000 |
| Streitwise | Dividend income | No | $5,000 |
| EquityMultiple | Deal variety | Yes | $5,000 |
| Roofstock | Rental investing | No | Variable down payment |
| Origin Investments | Large private funds | Yes | $50,000 |
| Arrived Homes | Diversified residential real estate | No | $100 |
Fundrise
Quick facts
- Minimum investment: $10
- Fees: 1% annual management fee
- Accreditation requirement: None
Why we chose Fundrise: With a $10 funding requirement and low annual fees, Fundrise is undeniably one of the best real estate crowdfunding platforms. It lets you invest in income-generating real estate to earn quarterly dividends, and over 300,000 investors currently use this crowdfunding platform.
There's also a secondary marketplace for shares which isn't something you get with every crowdfunding site. However, you have to hold shares for at least five years if you want to avoid an early-sale penalty.
Fees: Investors pay a total of 1% in annual management fees.
RealtyMogul
Quick facts
- Minimum investment: $5,000
- Fees: 1% annual management fee
- Accreditation requirement: None
Why we chose RealtyMogul: RealtyMogul provides another easy way to invest in individual real estate deals or in various REITs. And the $5,000 investing minimum is much lower, and its REITs are open to non-accredited investors as well.
RealtyMogul's REITs are one of its main selling points. It has an Income REIT as well as an Apartment Growth REIT that investors can explore.
Fees: Annual management fees typically range from 1% to 1.25% for various deals. You can also pay additional REIT fees.
Streitwise
Quick facts
- Minimum investment: $5,000
- Fees: 2% annual management fee
- Accreditation requirement: None
Why we chose Streitwise: If you're looking for dividend income, Streitwise is one of the best real estate crowdfunding sites you can use. It offers private REITs starting at a $5,000 investing minimum and has paid out 9.2% in annual dividends on average since its inception in 2017.
Streitwise is open to non-accredited investors as well, which is an advantage. You get paid quarterly dividends, and overall, Streitwise is a popular inflation investment since you can potentially hedge against inflation while generating quarterly income.
Fees: You pay 2% in annual management fees with Streitwise
EquityMultiple
Quick facts
- Minimum investment: $5,000
- Fees: Typically 0.5% to 1.5% in annual fees
- Accreditation requirement: Yes
Why we chose EquityMultiple: Another leading company in the real estate crowdfunding space is EquityMultiple. As for why it's made our list, EquityMultiple has a range of equity, preferred equity, and debt-based deals you can choose from. It also targets high-yield projects that are professionally managed, and according to its website, it's seen a historical net rate of return of 18.7%.
There's a $5,000 investing minimum, and you have to be accredited. But many deals have short target hold periods as well, so it could be a viable short-term investment which isn't always viable in real estate.
Fees: You typically pay 0.5% to 1.5% annually for equity investments and around 1% for debt investments. It also takes 10% of all profits.
Roofstock
Quick facts
- Minimum investment: $5,000
- Fees: 0.5% or $500
- Accreditation requirement: None
Why we chose Roofstock: If you've ever wanted to become a landlord, Roofstock could be the solution you're looking for. It lets you invest in single-family rental properties whereas most crowdfunding platforms focus on commercial real estate or multi-family homes. This lets you invest in income-generating rentals, and you can even have Roofstock manage the property for you with its network of property managers to keep things passive.
There's no minimum investment or accreditation requirements. However, financing terms likely require a decently sized down payment in the 20% to 30% range, so keep this in mind.
Fees: Roofstock charges $500 or 0.5% for investors, whichever is higher.
Origin Investments
Quick facts
- Minimum investment: $50,000
- Fees: Management fees of 1% to 2% plus administrative and acquisition fees
- Accreditation requirement: yes
Why we chose Origin Investments: If you want to invest $50,000 or more in private real estate funds, Origin Investments is one of your best options. This real estate crowdfunding platform is open to accredited investors and has a variety of funds, including growth funds, income-generating funds, and debt-based funds.
According to its website, Origin Investments has seen an average of 24% gross internal rate of return (IRR). If you're looking for various tax-advantaged real estate funds to invest in and are accredited, Origin Investments is worth considering.
Fees: Origin Investment charges a one-time administrative fee of up to 2%, management fee of 1% to 2%, and a 0.50% one-time acquisition fee. How much you pay in administrative fees depends on how much you invest.
Arrived Homes
Quick facts
- Minimum investment: $100
- Fees: 1% annual management fee
- Accreditation requirement: None
Why we chose Arrived Homes: Despite being a newer player in the real estate crowdfunding world, Arrived Homes had to make our list of the top sites. That's because it lets anyone invest in income-generating residential real estate starting with just $100. It's also completely passive since Arrived Homes works with contractors and property managers to handle rental units.
We really like Arrived Homes since it also lets renters invest in their own homes to become co-owners. This means tenants often have a vested interest in maintaining properties, leading to fewer repair costs. To date, the platform has paid 3.2% to 7.2% in annual dividends. However, this doesn't factor in potential property appreciation since the company only began in 2019.
Fees: You pay 1% in annual management fees as an Arrived Homes investor. There's also a one-time sourcing fee that Arrived Homes charges, and listings outline what this fee is.
What to know before investing in real estate
When you invest in the stock market, you’re betting on the financial success of that business and its ability to continue earning profits for years to come. When investing in real estate, each property is its own business in a way. Every property has its own risks, cash flow, and appreciation prospects.
Every real estate market is unique, and every investment opportunity is different. Two identical buildings in different cities will see different results. Market demands, interest rates, and tenants are just a few of the complex factors that lead to success or failure with an investment property.
How to choose a real estate crowdfunding site
Every real estate crowdfunding app has a similar goal – help you earn a high return on your investment. However, different strategies, fee structures, and investor requirements could lead you to pick one platform over another. These are the most important criteria to consider when choosing a real estate crowdfunding platform:
- 1.
Accredited investor requirements: Some real estate crowdfunding services require you to be an accredited investor. That means having a household net worth of at least $1 million, excluding your primary residence, or an annual income of at least $200,000. You can read our guide on the best real estate investing sites for non-accredited investors if you want to narrow your options.
- 2.
Minimum investment: Some platforms allow you to invest starting with as little as $10, while others require $100,000 for some investments. Your investment size may dictate which platform you choose.
- 3.
Investment strategy: Every real estate crowdfunding service has its own philosophy and investment strategy. Some offer funds, often structured as a real estate investment trust (REIT). Others give you direct investment opportunities. And, going further, they may focus on different types of properties, follow a unique underwriting strategy, and a debt or equity focus, impacting long-term results.
- 4.
Management fees: It’s reasonable to pay a company for picking properties and managing them. But you won’t want to give up too much of your investment gains for fees.
- 5.
Required investment period: Unlike the stock market, real estate crowdfunding investments may require years of waiting before you’re able to sell. If you may need the money sooner, real estate crowdfunding may not be the best choice.
- 6.
Risk: All investments carry some level of risk. Spend the time to evaluate the risk and potential return to decide if the investments are a good fit for your overall portfolio strategy and risk tolerance.
Find out more: Debt or equity real estate crowdfunding – Which is right for you?
How we chose the real estate platforms on this list
To zero in on the best real estate apps, we combed through the real estate crowdfunding industry, looking at a range of features and statistics. Among the most important considerations were accreditation requirements, minimum investment requirements, pricing and fees, past performance, and available investments.
Keep in mind that real estate platforms may change their rules at any time. And past performance is no guarantee of the future.
The real estate market has unique risks and opportunities. So while it could be an excellent choice for many investors, it could be a poor choice for others. Before investing your own money through these or any other real estate crowdfunding platforms, it’s wise to spend time reviewing costs, investment strategies, and investor requirements.
Final thoughts
Real estate investments used to be limited to wealthy landlords able to afford individual investment properties. But real estate crowdfunding platforms bring many of the benefits of real estate investments to the masses, including non-accredited investors. If you understand the risks and potential returns, a real estate crowdfunding site could be the best way to get started.
More: How to invest in real estate: A beginner's guide
