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Investing in real estate doesn’t have to be difficult. If you’re looking to avoid the legwork of conducting extensive property research, finding tenants, and regularly maintaining the asset(s), you have several easier alternatives to invest in real estate. You can invest in real estate investment trusts (REITs), electronic real estate funds, and non-traded REITs.
Best Real Estate Investing Apps
Fundrise – Product Name Only: Best real estate app for non-accredited investorsDiversyFund – Product Name Only: Best real estate robo-advisor for non-accredited investorsRoofstock – Product Name Only: Best real estate app for active real estate investingRealtyMogul – Product Name Only: Best real estate app for commercial real estateEquityMultiple – Product Name Only: Best real estate app for accredited investorsCrowdStreet – Product Name Only: Best real estate app for accredited investors runner-upYieldstreet – Product Name Only: Best real estate app for real estate investing and alternative investmentsGroundfloor – Product Name Only: Best real estate app for short-term real estate investments
Account minimums, management fees, and investment options vary for each real estate investing app. And while some apps serve all investors, regardless of their net worth, others may only accept accredited investors (individuals who have a net worth of at least $1 million).
Here are the best real estate investing apps as picked by Insider’s editors.
Real Estate Investing App Reviews
Most REITs are available on stock exchanges, but you can only buy non-traded REITs (REITs that don’t trade on stock exchanges) through brokers or financial advisors. Real estate funds are mutual funds that invest in different types of real estate securities provided by real estate companies.
The best real estate investing apps offer low ongoing fees, multiple investment options, user-friendly interfaces, and easily met minimum investment requirements. Real estate crowdfunding platforms make this possible. You can add residential properties, commercial properties, and other real estate investments to your portfolio at low costs.
Here’s how to invest in real estate through the best real estate investing apps.
Best Real-Estate App for Non-Accredited Investors
Fundrise
Fundrise – Product Name Only is a real estate investing app with a Fundrise – Account Minimum minimum, and the app offers eREITs, electronic real estate funds, venture capital funds, and Fundrise IPOs. This real estate investing app is best for hands-off investors looking for low fees. Fundrise investments have a minimum term of five years.
You don’t need to be accredited to invest with Fundrise. As long as you meet the app’s minimum, anyone can open an account. Plus, you can access real estate investing online through desktop and mobile access.
Fundrise offers individual and joint brokerage accounts, entity accounts, IRA accounts, and trust account with three portfolio options. All Fundrise portfolios come with auto-investing features, dividend reinvesting, and referral discounts.
You’ll pay only a 0.15% annual advisory fee for a standard Fundrise account. Fundrise Pro charges a $10 monthly fee, and you’ll need an investment minimum of $500 to access Fundrise IPOs. Fundrise real-estate funds also charge an annual 0.85% management fee.
Fundrise Pro offers a more hands-on investing approach for traders looking to customize their investment plans. This account option allows users to directly invest in specific funds, pick and choose their ideal allocations, and access data from Basis and Jogns Burns Research and Consulting.
What to look out for: Real estate investments are highly illiquid, meaning you won’t be able to readily convert your investment (s) into cash like you would with a stock. Fundrise realizes this. That’s why it has a minimum investment term requirement of five years.
If you can’t afford to let your money sit for at least five years, Fundrise probably isn’t the best option for you.
Best Real-Estate Robo-Advisor for Non-Accredited Investors
DiversyFund
DiversyFund – Product Name Only offers a generally low DiversyFund – Account Minimum, although it is significantly higher than Fundrise. DiversyFund manages your real estate investments for you, and it offers its services to both non-accredited and accredited investors. It charges a yearly DiversyFund – Fees Display.
DiversyFund solely offers its own Growth REIT which invests in multifamily properties with more than 100 units. This means that the robo-advisor owns and manages all of the real estate assets you’ll be investing in.
Its REITs investment strategy aims to generate growth over a five-year period, and the platform’s targeted returns for each property within the REIT range between 10% and 20%.
What to look out for: You cannot withdraw or cash out your investments until your minimum five-year investment term ends. This is because DiversyFund reinvests the dividends and earnings your investment generates until the real estate asset is sold.
If you’re considering DiversyFund, you should also note that the platform only offers REITs as investments. This means you won’t be able to invest your money in any other investment options or account types.
Best Real Estate App for Active Real Estate Investing
Roofstock
Roofstock is another unique real estate investing app and is best for active investors. For a Roofstock – Account Minimum minimum, you can buy, sell, and manage properties with free financial management software. Moreover, accredited investors can access fractionalized investments in curated portfolios.
Roofstock actually lets you invest in single-family rental properties. Once you purchase a property, you don’t have to worry about being left out to fend for yourself — Roofstock assigns a property manager to each rental. Properties are usually tenant-occupied, and property managers are there to assist you as you earn monthly rental income.
Although Roofstock doesn’t have an account minimum, you will be charged a $500 or 0.5% contract price (whichever is higher). You may also have to pay a down payment on the property and other additional fees depending on the rental.
What to look out for: The downside is that this could be more expensive than investing in a REIT or other real estate fund, since you’re actually purchasing and making down payments on properties. Another thing to note is that while Roofstock is launching a Roofsavvy mobile app for iOS users, it doesn’t currently have any mobile apps available.
Best Real Estate App for Commercial Real Estate
RealtyMogul
RealtyMogul makes real estate investing accessible to everyone and is best for investing in commercial real estate. You can even invest if you aren’t an accredited investor, but you’ll need a minimum of RealtyMogul – Account Minimum to begin. And as for your investment options, RealtyMogul lets you purchase stake in commercial real estate in two ways: REITs and single properties.
As for cost, single properties (also known as private placements) are only available to accredited investors. For these properties, RealtyMogul requires investment minimums ranging between $25,000 and $50,000. Both accredited and non-accredited investors can purchase the company’s REITs with as little as RealtyMogul – Account Minimum.
RealtyMogul shows an average annual return of 5.49% on investments of at least five years. It also shows that an investment of 15 years has an average annual return of 19.17%.
The real estate investing app also offers automated investment management through its auto-invest feature. But this is only available if you invest in one of the company’s REITs (MogulREIT I or MogulREIT II). In addition, you can use funds from your IRA to invest in REITs.
What to look out for: You’ll need at least $5,000 to invest in REITs, but other investments — such as individual properties — have minimums ranging from $25,000 to $50,000. While RealtyMogul isn’t the cheapest, it’s also not the most expensive.
Best Real Estate App for Accredited Investors
EquityMultiple
EquityMultiple is best for accredited investors looking to invest in a wide variety of assets and that have at least EquityMultiple – Account Minimum to invest. This platform lets you invest in institutional commercial real estate, equity, preferred equity, and senior debt.
EquityMultiple also gives you the choice between the following three investment approaches:
Fund Investing: $20,000 to $30,000 minimum requirement and a target duration of 1.5 to 10 or more yearsDirect Investing: $10,000 minimum requirements and a target duration of six months to five yearsSavings Alternative Investing: $5 minimum requirement and a target duration of three to nine months
Each approach utilizes different investment strategies, time horizons, and minimum investment requirements.
When it comes to real estate investments, EquityMultiple offers a range of property types, including multifamily, office, industrial, storage, car wash, cannabis facilities, retail, mixed-use, opportunity zones, senior living facilities, student housing, and data centers.
You can also open and invest with self-directed IRAs.
What to look out for: EquityMultiple only accepts accredited investors, so this isn’t a good option if your net worth is less than $1 million. In addition, investment minimums are on the high side, so be prepared to spend between $5,000 and $30,000 to invest in real estate.
Best Real Estate App for Accredited Investors Runner-Up
Crowdstreet
With a CrowdStreet – Account Minimum minimum investment requirement, Crowdstreet specifically serves accredited investors. The platform lets you invest in commercial real estate in three ways:
Diversified funds and vehiclesIndividual dealsTailored portfolios.
With CrowdStreet’s diversified funds and vehicles option, you can select a single real estate investment to add to your portfolio. If you’re more of a DIY-minded investor, you can use the individual deals investment option to directly choose your own real estate investment opportunities through the CrowdStreet Marketplace.
And if you’re looking for a bit more guidance with real estate investing, the company’s tailored portfolios investment option builds a customized and professionally managed real estate portfolio for you.
CrowdStreet charges investors no fees to join the platform or access real estate opportunities; it mainly charges real estate sponsors fees. These generally range from 0.50% to 2.5%.
What to look out for: CrowdStreet is only for accredited investors, and you’ll need at least CrowdStreet – Account Minimum to start investing. The company also typically requires you to buy and hold investments for a minimum of three to five years, so CrowdStreet is best for accredited investors who can park their money for multiple years.
Best Real Estate App for Real Estate Investing and Alternative Investments
Yieldstreet
Yieldstreet offers real estate and other alternative investments to accredited investors who have at least Yieldstreet – Account Minimum to invest. You can currently invest in the following alternative asset types with Yieldstreet: real estate, legal finance, marine finance, crypto, commercial and consumer finance, and art finance.
But don’t worry if you aren’t an accredited investor. You can still invest in the Yieldstreet Prism fund. This fund requires a minimum of $500, but it lets you invest in multiple alternative asset types. The company’s short-term notes also have a $500 minimum requirement, and most of its other investments bear a $10,000 minimum (short-term notes are investments that allow investors to earn regular interest payments during the term of the note).
Yieldstreet also has more lenient investment terms compared to some of the other real estate apps in this roundup. You can invest for as short a time as six months or up to five years.
What to look out for: If you’re looking to build your retirement savings, IRAs will cost you $299 or $399 per year. Account balances between $0 and $100,000 cost $299 per year, while you’ll pay $399 annually for balances that are $100,001 and above.
Yieldstreet is also primarily available to accredited investors, or individuals with net worths of at least $1 million. If you’re a non-accredited investor, you can still invest with Yieldstreet, but you’ll only have access to one fund: Yieldstreet’s Prism fund.
Best Real Estate App for Short-Term Real Estate Investments
Groundfloor
Groundfloor – Product Name Only is a wealthtech platform best for short-term real estate debt investments through SEC-qualified Limited Recourse Obligations (LROs) and notes. There’s a Groundfloor – Account Minimum minimum to get started. It’s available to both accredited and nonaccredited investors.
Investment terms range from 30 days to 18 months. Both accredited and nonaccredited investors can utilize Groundfloor’s self-directed and automatic investing features, as well as a proprietary loan-grading algorithm. The platform has a history of a 10% annual return on your investments.
Groundfloor offers IRAs (traditional, Roth, SEP, SIMPLE, and rollover) and a mobile investing called Stairs. The mobile app has a base rate of 4% annual interest.
What to look out for: Although Groundfloor doesn’t charge management fees, it does require a Groundfloor – Account Minimum and may charge additional service fees on loans. It also costs $1,250 for closing, plus $495 on loan applications.
Real Estate Investing Apps Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a real estate crowdfunding investment platform?
Crowdfunding is a strategy whereby certain businesses use the Internet and other social media platforms to attract investors. Real estate investing apps offer that same opportunity to investors who want to invest in commercial real estate or other real estate assets.
The crowdfunding platform pools each investor’s money into whatever real estate investments it offers. For instance, the app might be pooling investors’ money into REITs and or other properties.
What is a REIT?
A real estate investment trust (REIT) is a company that owns and manages multiple income-generating real estate assets. Unlike traditional real estate investing that requires you to hold onto properties for years at a time, REITs offer a simpler — and more liquid — approach to building wealth. While there are generally two types of REITs (publicly traded and non-traded), publicly-traded REITs trade like stocks and offer higher dividends than stocks.
Can I invest $100 in real estate?
You can start investing in real estate with $100 or less with REITs. Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are cheaper and more liquid than physical real estate properties. You can invest $100 in high quality REITS that offer you streams of passive income-generating real estate assets.
Is it a good idea to invest in real estate?
Real estate investing can be a great way for passive income to build wealth, receive tax advantages, and diversify their investment portfolios. With real estate investing, you can earn a passive, stable income. Plus, your investments often strengthen over time. However, these investments do lack liquidity and can take months to close on a property.
Are real estate investing apps legit?
Real estate investing apps are a legitimate way to diversify your investment portfolio and increase your wealth. The best real estate investing apps provide a variety of investing strategies for accredited and non-accredited traders. These apps are suitable for both active and passive investors.
How do you invest in real estate online?
You can invest in real estate online through real estate investment trusts (REITs) and crowdfunding platforms. Most online real estate investing platforms are long-term investments that allow traders to purchase properties without needing to physically be there.
Other Real Estate Investing Apps We Considered
Modiv: Formerly Rich Uncles, Modiv is an investor-owned real estate app offering REITs and self-directed IRAs. The platform is open to both accredited and non-accredited investors, but you’ll need at least $1,000 to get started. As for its REITs, Modiv pulls from commercial real estate properties across 14 states. This company is ideal for REIT-minded investors, but keep in mind that you won’t be able to choose which properties you’re invested in.PeerStreet investment account: Similar to Groundfloor, PeerStreet allows traders to invest in high-yield, short-term loans. It only accepts accredited investors. It earns 4.00% interest and doesn’t charge maintenance fees nor a minimum requirement. Streitwise This platform offers REIT investing for both accredited and non-accredited investors in the US and abroad. Though you’ll need at least $3,505 to get started, Streitwise also lets its users invest in real estate whether and bitcoin. Note, though, that you won’t be able to choose which properties you invest in. In 2022, the dividend yield average was 7.8%. RealCrowd: RealCrowd offers commercial real estate investments in retail, multifamily, office, industrial, development, and fund opportunities. One thing to look out for, though, is that you’ll need a net worth of at least $1 million to get started, and an investment minimum typically between $50,000 to $75,000.Patch of Land: Patch of Land is a peer-to-peer real estate app that connects accredited investors to borrowers who need loans for real estate projects. So whether you’re a lender or borrower, its website has information on how to get started. You’ll need to be an accredited investor to begin.Ark7: Ark7 lets you invest in fractional shares of rental properties without having to worry about the daily maintenance of the properties you hold stake in. The platform also allows you to invest through IRAs, but it’s only available to accredited investors.Ameriprise Financial Investments – Editorial Name Only: Ameriprise Financial Services is an independent broker/firm best for experienced investors looking to trade various assets, including real estate investments. An account with Ameriprise can be pricey, depending on the services you’re interested in. It’s also generally best for investment folks seeking account management from fiduciary advisors.
Are Real Estate Investing Apps Worth It?
That depends on your particular risk tolerance and savings goals. Real estate investments are extremely illiquid, so you won’t be able to convert your money into cash as easily as you could with a stock or exchange-traded investment. Additionally, most real estate investing apps require you to hold your investments for a minimum of five years so that you can earn higher returns.
Real estate apps are great for investing in real estate without actually having to buy and manage properties yourself. The best real estate investing apps often offer automated account management, so you won’t have to worry about reinvesting dividends or calling big shots on your own.
How to Invest in Real Estate Online
There are two main ways to invest in real estate online: Real estate investment trusts (REITs) and crowdfunding platforms.
REITs are companies that own, operate, and finance real estate ventures. Similar to mutual funds and ETFs, REITs invest in multiple properties so users can earn a share of the income of multiple assets. The best markets for long-term real estate investing can help you diversify your investment portfolios and generate cash flow.
There are three main types of REITs:
Mortgage REITs: This type of real estate investment trust holds either actual mortgages or mortgage-backed securities. Investors earn income from mortgage payments and interest payments. Since mortgage REITs are leverage, they can often be a riskier option than equity REITs.Equity REITs: This is the most common REITs and it is made up of owned and operated real estate properties. Investors earn revenue from rent payments. Hybrid REITs: This type of REIT is a blend of mortgage REITs and equity REITs.
You can also invest in real estate online through crowdfunding, which is when a group of individuals pool funds through an online platform in order to invest in real estate. Those funds are then used to either purchase property or fund the development of the asset.
A majority of the best online real estate investing platforms allow traders to customize a portfolio based on financial goals, time horizons, and risk tolerance. In return for your money, you’ll receive debt or equity in monthly or quarterly distributions.
However, not all crowdfunding platforms are universally available as many require you to be an accredited investor. Still, platforms like Groundfloor and Fundrise also accept nonaccredited investors.
Keep in mind that crowdfunding is generally not as liquid as other securities. Crowdfunding also requires a longer time horizon, usually at least five years, before becoming profitable.
How Does a Beginner Invest in Real Estate?
Real estate investments are a great way to diversify your investing portfolio. Here’s how to get into real estate investing for both hands-on and hands-off investors.
Real estate investments operate differently than more traditional assets like stocks or bonds. That said, almost anyone can invest in real estate. Some of the most common strategies ways include:
Real estate investment trusts (REITs)Real estate limited partnerships (RELP)Crowdfunding platformsFlipping a houseBecome a landlordInvesting in your house
If you want to put more time and energy into buying and painting properties, flipping a house for profit or becoming a landlord may be a suitable option for you. Passive investors can enjoy the luxury of funding real estate trusts, limited partnerships, or crowdfunding platforms without the hassle of actually buying a property themselves. If you prefer to keep your investments close to home, you can even invest in your own house.
Real estate is often a long-term investment requiring long-term commitment, so make sure you’re financially prepared and consider setting up an emergency fund. Consider creating a financial plan to highlight your investing goals.
You’ll also want to do your research on the location of any property you’re investing in. Being knowledgeable of the area and knowing the history of the property can be a huge advantage.
At the end of the day, real estate investments can take a long-time to earn a profit. You’ll likely have to wait at least five years before your efforts pay off.
Why You Should Trust Us: How to Choose a Real-Estate Investing App
Our mission at Personal Finance Insider is to help smart people make the best decisions with their money. We know that “best” is often subjective, so we highlight the clear benefits of a financial product along with any limitations with our rating methodology for investing platforms.
We spent hours comparing and contrasting the features and fine print of real estate investing apps so you don’t have to. We reviewed more than a dozen real estate investing app crowdfunding platforms to determine the best options for low fees, investment types, and account features.
