Best Real Estate Crowdfunding Platforms

Read our Advertiser Disclosure.
Contributor, Benzinga
February 15, 2024

Overall, Fundrise is the best real estate crowdfunding platform. Distinguished by its unparalleled level of transparency, affordability, exemplary account services and an impressive range of additional features.

Real Estate can play an important part in your investment portfolio. The connective power of the internet now makes real estate investing more obtainable — even if you don’t have much capital. Real estate crowdfunding platforms allow you to connect with other investors and pool your money to purchase property for passive real estate income. 

Paths previously restricted to accredited investors were opened by new guidelines from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2016. Current rules allow investors to share capital for collective property investments of all types. This guide evaluates ten real estate crowdfunding platforms based on criteria such as fees, usability, investment selection, and overall performance.

Quick Look: Real Estate Crowdfunding Platforms

Best ForPlatformOpen to Non-Accredited Investors?Minimum Investment
DiversificationFundriseYes$10
Rental PropertiesArrived HomesYes$100
Diverse OfferingsEquityMultipleNo$5,000
Residential Real EstateCityfundsYes$100
Alternative InvestmentsYieldstreetYes$10,000
Commercial Real EstateCrowdStreetNo$25,000
Grocery-Anchored Real EstateFirst National Realty PartnersNo$50,000
Multifamily Real EstateRealtyMogulYes$5,000

Best Real Estate Crowdfunding Sites

Benzinga evaluated various real estate crowdfunding platforms and these are top picks that have led the surge in real estate crowdfunding. 

1. Best for Diversification: Fundrise

  • Fundrise
    Best For:
    Beginner Real Estate Investors
    securely through Fundrise's website

    This is a testimonial in partnership with Fundrise. We earn a commission from partner links on Benzinga.com. All opinions are our own.

Fundrise has options for virtually any investor with various account levels for both accredited and non-accredited investors. The platform has 14 funds available to invest in with account minimums starting at just $10. Investors can choose to craft their own portfolio or let Fundrise choose their allocation based on investment goals and timeline.

Fundrise's performance speaks for itself. Its diversified portfolio model has consistently delivered positive returns across all account levels, making real estate crowdfunding a much less-risky investment.

  • Fees: 0.15% advisory fee for all Fundrise assets plus 0.85% for real estate funds, 1.85% for innovation fund, and $10 per month or $99 per year for Fundrise Pro.
  • Minimum investment: $10
  • Open to non accredited-investors: Yes

Pros

  • Multiple offerings available to non-accredited investors
  • Simple menu of investment options
  • Can use for IRA contributions
  • Incredibly affordable buy-ins
  • Low, easy-to-understand investor fee schedule

Cons

  • Extended hold periods
  • Limited secondary market

2. Best for Rental Properties: Arrived Homes

2021-Fintech-Awards-Listmaker-Badge-4

Arrived Homes is one of the newest and fastest growing crowdfunding platforms on the internet. The company allows non-accredited investors to buy shares in carefully selected rental properties.

The minimum investment is only $100, making it easy to start earning passive income from real estate and to diversify across multiple properties. Investors simply collect quarterly dividends from their properties while waiting for the asset to increase in value over time. Arrived Homes takes care of finding tenants as well as all of the management responsibilities.

  • Fees: Long Term Rentals: 3.5% sourcing Fee, 0.15% AUM fee. Vacation rentals: 5% sourcing fee, 5% gross rents fee, property management fees (third party-pass-through fees): vary
  • Minimum investment: $100
  • Open to non accredited-investors: Yes

Pros

  • Buy-ins as low as $100
  • Open to non-accredited investors
  • Offers ownership shares in real property (and all the tax benefits)
  • Multiple ways to earn dividends (rental income and property appreciation)
  • Great way to diversify portfolio
  • Open to self-directed individual retirement accounts (IRAs)

Cons

  • Long hold periods
  • No secondary market to liquidate shares

3. Best for Diverse Offerings: EquityMultiple

EquityMultiple is a new alternative investment platform that uses technology to make real estate investing easier to understand for the investor, especially when you need help choosing the right investments. There are short-term and long-term growth options, and you can make the most of the cash you invest by pinpointing the real estate in which you would like to invest, without buying properties yourself.

In short, EquityMultiple offers:

  • Quick returns
  • Low buy-in pricing, often less than $10,000
  • Excellent client support

Remember, this platform is only for accredited investors, but it allows you to do the hands-on work that you do with your other investments. You can learn all the information you need to know, but you’re never tasked with managing these properties. You simply see the profits when they come in.

  • Fees: Investment-dependent; approximate range is 0.5% to 1.5% plus an origination fee.
  • Minimum investment: $5,000
  • Open to non accredited-investors: No

Pros

  • Many investments with low buy-ins less than $10,000
  • Numerous offerings with pay-outs in less than 12 months
  • High-functioning website
  • Incredible client support

Cons

  • Only available to accredited investors

4. Best for Residential Real Estate: Cityfunds

When you invest in Cityfunds by Nada, you can invest in a piece of a city for as little as $250. Anyone can buy into the program at any time with this small minimum deposit, and you are putting your stake into a piece of a city.

The firm invests in residential real estate in a particular market, especially high-demand markets like Miami, Dallas and Austin. You can also buy and sell your shares in these cities like stocks so that you aren’t relying on a particular development to see a return.

In short, Cityfunds by Nada combines what you love about ETFs with what is the largest asset class in the world. Plus, you can get yourself on the waitlist for the Nada Card, a debit card that will allow you to earn rewards that you can invest further in your real estate portfolio.

  • Fees: 1.5% asset management fee quarterly based on the net asset value, a 1.0% acquisition fee on single-family rental acquisitions, and a 5.0% to 7.0% asset sale fee for each home equity investment asset acquired.
  • Minimum investment: $100
  • Open to non accredited-investors: Yes

Pros

  • Allows for investing alongside homeowners
  • Discounts of 10-15% to market value
  • Buy and share trades right from the app

Cons

  • Only available to U.S. residents
  • May not be the right investment for those seeking monthly passive income through rental returns

5. Best for Alternative Investments: Yieldstreet

Yieldstreet has investment offerings across several different alternative asset classes - including real estate crowdfunding. Unlike the other real estate investment platforms on this list, Yieldstreet also regularly has debt offerings, allowing individuals to invest in real estate notes secured by institutional-quality real estate assets.

While most offerings are only available to accredited investors, Yieldstreet recently launched its Growth & Income REIT, which is available to all investors with a $5,000 minimum investment. This REIT provides access to a diversified portfolio of all real estate offerings that hit the Yieldstreet platform.

  • Fees: Investment-dependent; ranges from 0.00% for short-term note series to 2.0%.
  • Minimum investment: $10,000
  • Open to non accredited-investors: Yes

Pros

  • Easy-to-use platform
  • Carefully selected offerings
  • Excellent mobile app
  • Full spectrum of alternative offerings
  • Options for non-accredited investors

Cons

  • Majority of investments only open to accredited investors

6. Best for Commercial Real Estate: CrowdStreet

2021-Fintech-Awards-Listmaker-Badge-4

CrowdStreet is the largest and most diverse commercial real estate marketplace. It’s a good match if you're an experienced, accredited investor and prefer to choose properties to invest in yourself instead of leaving the decisions up to a fund or REIT manager. 

Choose from investment in a managed portfolio or direct access to individual commercial real estate investment opportunities. You can then review and compare deals that meet your own criteria.

A minimum of $25,000 is required for most offerings and your investment can be much steeper depending on the project. To date, the average return to investors on fully realized deals is 17.1% with an average investment term of 2.3 years.

Live webinars provide an opportunity for direct access to the project sponsor. The platform also provides numbers and analytical data from past projects so you can compare and consider the potential success of investments.

  • Fees: Varying depending on the deal, and are paid to the sponsor.
  • Minimum investment: $25,000
  • Open to non accredited-investors: No

Pros

  • User-friendly interface
  • Diverse investment offerings
  • Great investor resources
  • Proven performance history
  • Many offerings eligible for inclusion in self-directed IRA

Cons

  • Accredited investors only
  • Most offerings require a $25,000 minimum investment

7. Best for Grocery-Anchored Real Estate: First National Realty Partners

First National Realty Partners is a growing private equity firm focused on offering accredited investors the opportunity to invest in grocery-anchored commercial real estate properties. The company focuses on acquiring properties with long-standing, national tenants, especially within necessity-based markets. Some of the largest tenants currently occupying properties owned by FNRP include:

  • Publix
  • Kroger
  • Whole Foods
  • Walmart 
  • Lowe’s
  • McDonald’s
  • Starbucks

FNRP has higher minimum investments but overall is a trusted and high quality real estate investing platform.

  • Fees: Annual asset management fee of 1-2% commercial  property deals. Other fees not disclosed.
  • Minimum investment: $50,000
  • Open to non accredited-investors: No

Pros

  • Strong due diligence process
  • Partners receive quarterly cash distributions
  • 100% in-house investment process helps deals close quickly and secures more value and control for investments

Cons

  • $50,000 minimum investment
  • Accredited investors only

8. Best for Multifamily Real Estate: RealtyMogul

RealtyMogul offers a variety of institutional-quality real estate offerings, but it stands out with its selection of multifamily real estate investments in some of the hottest markets throughout the country.

The platform is also one of the few that has investment options for non-accredited investors. While direct investments are only available to those that meet accredited investor requirements, non-accredited investors have access to the two RealtyMogul-sponsored non-traded REITs, each with a diverse portfolio of quality assets.

  • Fees: Investment-dependent; Income REIT has a maximum fee of 4.5% and Apartment Growth REIT has a maximum annual fee of 4.75%.
  • Minimum investment: $5,000
  • Open to non accredited-investors: Yes

Pros

  • Do everything from finding the investment property through to signing the legal documents and monitoring your portfolio, all in one platform.
  • All properties are pre-vetted through RealtyMogul's transparent and rigorous due diligence process.
  • Investment minimums as low as $5,000

Cons

  • Individual property marketplace is only open to accredited investors
  • Does not offer portfolio management

Other Real Estate Crowdfunding Options

While the options above represent our top picks for the best real estate crowdfunding platforms, there are more options to consider based on your personal investment strategy and goals. You can compare other real estate investment platforms below.

Choosing the Best Real Estate Crowdfunding Site for You

If you're considering investing in real estate through crowdfunding, it's crucial to select the right platform that aligns with your investment goals and offers reliable returns. Remember, not all crowdfunding platforms are created equal, and it's important to do your research before committing your money. 

Learn more about real estate investing and crowdfunding today with Benzinga.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q

Whats so good about real estate crowdfunding?

A

Real estate crowd funding allows you to diversify your portfolio by investing in real estate.

Q

Is real estate crowdfunding worth it?

A

Real estate crowdfunding can be worth it for investors looking to diversify their portfolio and gain exposure to real estate without the need for large amounts of capital. It offers the opportunity to invest in a variety of properties and projects, potentially providing attractive returns. However, like any investment, there are risks involved, such as the potential for market fluctuations and the possibility of project delays or failures.

Q

Is it safe to invest in real estate crowdfunding?

A

Investing in real estate crowdfunding can be relatively safe compared to traditional real estate investing, but it is not without risks. It is important to thoroughly research the platform and the specific investment opportunity before investing. Factors such as the credibility and track record of the platform, the quality of the underlying real estate project, and the terms and conditions of the investment should all be carefully considered.

Accelerate Your Wealth

Arrived Homes allows retail investors to buy shares of individual rental properties for as little as $100. Arrived Homes acquires properties in some of the fastest-growing rental markets in the country, then sells shares to individual investors who simply collect passive income while waiting for the property to appreciate in value over 5 to 7 years. When the time is right, Arrived Homes sells the property so investors can cash in on the equity they've gained over time. Offerings are available to non-accredited investors. Sign up for an account on Arrived Homes to browse available properties and add real estate to your portfolio today.

About Eric McConnell

Eric McConnell is a real estate writer with a years-long passion for the real estate industry and the desire to help everyday people learn more about real estate investing. He is a graduate of Pepperdine University, where he earned a BA in journalism. 

After graduating, Eric embarked on a career in real estate where he spent over a decade as an agent for multi-family and commercial properties in Los Angeles. In his career, he’s worked on almost every side of a real estate transaction. He has represented buyers, sellers, property owners and renters and served as manager for commercial and residential properties. 

In 2019, Eric started sharing his experience with the wider world as a writer. He got his start writing and editing real estate lessons for prospective licensees before joining Benzinga in 2021. Since then he has written a variety of real estate material ranging from investment platform reviews to covering and analyzing breaking news in the real estate industry. His work has been published by Yahoo News on numerous occasions. 

Hold on!

Before you go, we think you'll find these real estate investment offerings even more interesting. Looking for even more exciting opportunities? Subscribe below to get notified as soon as interesting new offerings are added to our real estate investment screener.