Real estate investing may be more accessible than you think. While traditional ownership models often demand significant time and capital, online real estate platforms make it easy for the average retail investor to participate without the burden of property management.
Passive investment strategies, such as real estate crowdfunding, limited partnerships, and REITs, are generally considered more accessible for beginners. However, before investing in a property or real estate fund, ensure it aligns with your risk tolerance and time horizon.
Here is how to invest in real estate with the top online real-estate investment apps as picked by Business Insider's editors in 2025.
Best Real Estate Investing Apps
- RealtyMogul: Best Overall
- Fundrise: Best for Beginner Real-Estate Investors
- Yieldstreet: Best for Alternative Asset Classes
- Groundfloor: Best for Short-Term Real Estate Investments
- EquityMultiple: Best for Accredited Investors
- CrowdStreet: Best for Experienced Real Estate Investors
- DiversyFund: Best for Crowdfunding
- Arrived: Best for Flexible Liquidity
Open a Real Estate Investing Account
$10
0.85% for real estate (additional 1% and $125 for IRAs)
- Available to non-accredited investors
- Low minimum account size requirements
- Varying risk and volatility options
- Passive income
- Investments are illiquid
- Illiquid investment options
- Not ideal for short-term investing
Fundrise is one of the best real estate investing apps for non-accredited investors looking for affordable crowdfunding investment options. The platform accepts clients regardless of annual income or net worth.
Fundrise- Consider it if: You're looking for an easy and inexpensive way to start investing in real estate.
- Awards: Listed in Forbes Fintech 50 list twice
$5,000 (minimums can also range between $10,000 and $30,000)
Varies; typically 0.5% (EquityMultiple also charges annual administrative expense fee of $30-$70)
- Low fees
- Option to invest in institutional commercial real estate, equity, preferred equity, and senior debt
- Multiple property types
- Self-directed IRAs available
- Only accepts accredited investors
- Doesn't offer publicly traded REITs
EquityMultiple is one of the best real estate investing apps for accredited investors. It offers commercial real estate assets, senior debt, equity, and preferred equity.
EquityMultiple- Consider it if: You're an accredited investor looking to invest at least $5,000 into commercial real estate.
$10,000
1% to 4%; 1.5% for Alternative Income Fund
- Access to alternative investments, including art, real estate, and legal settlements, that allow investors with plenty of assets to further diversify their portfolios
- Investors receive regular interest payouts over the life of the loan
- Higher-risk investments — best for those with a large amount of money to invest; limited investments available
- Fees may be higher than other types of investment accounts
- Investments are highly illiquid
Yieldstreet is best for experienced, high-income/high-net-worth investors, but folks who don't have six figures to invest in should look elsewhere. Yieldstreet is one of the best real estate investing apps for folks interested in real estate and alternative investments.
Yieldstreet- Consider it if: You're a high-net-worth investor interested in diversifying your investments across real estate and other alternative assets.
- Awards: Listed on CB Insights' Fintech 250 ranking as a Top Fintech Startup
RealtyMogul: Best Overall
RealtyMogul is one of the top real estate crowdfunding platforms and REIT investing apps set out to make real estate investing accessible to everyone. It offers pre-vetted public, non-traded REITs and is available to all investors regardless of accreditation status.
As for your investment options, this REIT app lets you purchase stakes in commercial real estate, either as REITs or single properties.
Single properties (private placements) are only available to accredited investors, but all investors can purchase the company's Income and Growth REITs. REITs provide quarterly or monthly dividend payouts and appreciation.
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 option, it's also not the most expensive.
Pros of RealtyMogul
- Pre-vetted public and non-traded REITs are available
- Doesn't require accrediation
- Allows you to generate passive income on a monthly or quarterly basis
Cons of RealtyMogul
- High $5,000 minimum
- Money locked up for at least a year
- Non-accredited investors limited to REITs
Fundrise: Best for Beginner Real Estate Investors
Fundrise is an easy-to-navigate real estate investment app for with only a $10 minimum. It offers electronic real estate funds, venture capital funds, and Fundrise IPOs with the aim of making real estate investing more accessible to non-accredited investors.
Fundrise has some of the lowest fees in the industry, with a 0.15% advisory fee and management fees ranging from 0.85% to 1.85%.
Beginner real estate investors can choose from Fundrise's various investment plans:
- Venture Capital Plan
- Long-Term Growth Plan
- Supplemental Income Plan
- Balanced Investing Plan
You don't need to be accredited to invest with Fundrise. Anyone can open an account if they meet the app's minimum requirements. All Fundrise portfolios have auto-investing features, dividend reinvesting, and referral discounts.
If you can't afford to leave your money for at least five years, Fundrise is probably not your best option.
Pros of Fundrise
- $10 minimum investment
- Accepts both accredited and non-accredited investors
- You can withdraw funds at any time
- BBB-accredited business
Cons of Fundrise
- Limited liquidity
- Early withdrawals have a 1% penalty fee
Yieldstreet: Best for Alternative Asset Classes
Yieldstreet offers real estate and other alternative investments to accredited investors. You can invest in the following alternative asset types with Yieldstreet: real estate, private equity, venture capital, legal finance, transportation, crypto, private credit, and art finance.
But don't worry if you aren't an accredited investor. You can still invest in the Yieldstreet Prism fund, which lets you invest in multiple alternative asset types simultaneously. Yieldstreet also has more lenient investment terms than some of the other real estate apps in this roundup. You can invest for as short as six months or up to five years.
Yieldstreet is primarily available to accredited investors or individuals with at least $1 million net worth. If you're a non-accredited investor, you can still invest with Yieldstreet, but you'll only have access to one fund: Yieldstreet's Alternative Income Fund.
Pros of Yieldstreet
- Investment options for both accredited and non-accredited investors
- Yieldstreet digital wallet
- Short-term investment options
Cons of Yieldstreet
- Non-accredited investors limited to Yieldstreet's Prism fund
- High $10,000 minimum investment
Groundfloor: Best for Short-Term Investments
Groundfloor is a wealth tech platform best for short-term real estate debt investments, including SEC-qualified Limited Recourse Obligations (LROs), notes, and the Flywheel Portfolio. There's a minimum to get started. It's available to both accredited and non-accredited investors.
Investment terms range from 30 days to 36 months. Accredited and nonaccredited investors can use Groundfloor's self-directed and automatic investing features and a proprietary loan-grading algorithm. Investments have a history of a 10% annual return.
Groundfloor also offers IRAs (traditional, Roth, SEP, SIMPLE, and rollover) and a mobile investing called Stairs.
Although Groundfloor doesn't charge management fees, keep in mind that there is a required $100 minimum investment, and you may have to pay additional service fees on loans.
Pros of Groundfloor
- Doesn't charge investors fees and the minimum investment is low
- Available to accredited and non-accredited investors
- Short-term investment options available
Cons of Groundfloor
- Limited educational resources
- Loans pose a significant risk as you could lose money if it defaults
EquityMultiple: Best for Accredited Investors
EquityMultiple is best for accredited investors looking to invest in a wide variety of assets and who have at least $5,000 (minimums can also range between $10,000 and $30,000) to invest. You can invest in institutional, commercial real estate, equity, preferred equity, and senior debt.
EquityMultiple offers various investment approaches, such as Fund Investing, Direct Investing, and Savings Alternative Investing. Each approach utilizes different investment strategies, time horizons, and minimum requirements.
The platform's range of property types includes 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.
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 invest between $5,000 and $30,000 in real estate.
Pros of EquityMultiple
- Low fees
- Wide range of property types
- Commercial real estate, equity, and senior debt investment options
Cons of EquityMultiple
- Must be accredited
- Doesn't offer publically traded REITs
- High $5,000 minimum investment
CrowdStreet: Best for Experienced Real Estate Investors
CrowdStreet is one of the largest online real estate marketplaces for experienced real estate investors. It is also a stand-out option for accredited investors who want to diversify their portfolios with pre-vetted institutional-level commercial real estate investment opportunities.
Investors can access in-depth information regarding underlying property' details, investment strategy (including how the funds will be used), target markets, estimated hold period, fund manager, and investor return structure.
CrowdStreet is transparent about its offerings, but investors need the knowledge to understand how to negotiate inveting parameters and manage investments. CrowdStreet does not manage investments for you.
If you don't know how to analyze real estate investment opportunities, CrowdStreet probably isn't the right platform for you.
That said, investors who prefer a passive investment approach can consider CrowdStreet's Diversified Funds options, which the platform's advisors actively manage.
CrowdStreet is only for accredited investors, and you'll need at least $25,000 to start investing. Investments are highly illiquid.
Pros of CrowdStreet
- Provides pre-vetted commercial real estate investment options
- Transparent risk categories
- Unlimited access to advanced market insight, tools, and trading services
Cons of CrowdStreet
- Not available to non-accredit investors
- High $25,000 minimum requirement
- 3 to 5-year lock-up period on funds
DiversyFund: Best for Crowdfunding
DiversyFund is a real estate crowdfunding platform that invests in undervalued multifamily properties in the US with high growth potential. It has a reasonable $500 minimum with investment opportunities for both accredited and non-accredited individuals.
DiversyFund stands out for its Auto Invest feature, which allows users to set recurring trades in the Multifamily Fund for long-term appreciation. The free feature is a great tool for novice real estate investors interested in the set-it-and-forget approach.
You cannot withdraw or cash out your investments until DiversyFund sells the invested properties (four to six years). Also, DiversyFund doesn't pay out dividends. While the platform is well-suited for passive investing, it isn't ideal for generating passive income.
Pros of DiversyFund
- Low $500 minimum investment
- Offers vetted multifamily properties
- Available to both accredited and non-accredited investors
Cons of DiversyFund
- Only accredited investors can access single-asset properties
- Doesn't pay out dividends
Arrived: Best for Flexible Liquidity
Arrived (previously Arrived Homes) is a new real estate investing platform offering straightforward and affordable real estate property shares for accredited and non-accredited investors. Investors can hand-pick individual residential and vacation rental properties or invest in one of Arrived's pre-built funds for instant diversification.
Dividend payouts and property appreciation can generate steady passive income. Retirement-focused individuals can use Arrived to diversify their retirement portfolios with real estate investments.
The Arrived Single Family Residential Fund and Private Credit Fund offer flexible quarterly liquidity. Moreover, after six months of investing with Arrived, you can request redemption to retrieve some or all of your shares (a feature not offered by most real estate platforms).
Pros of Arrived
- Low $100 minimum investment
- Generate passive income through dividend payouts and property appreciation
- Flexible liquidity and redemptions are available after 6 months
- Available to accredited and non-accredited investors
Cons of Arrived
- Arrived has relatively high fees compared to other platforms on this list.
- Individual investments have a holding period of 5 to 7 years
- Residential property selection is limited.
Learn the Basics of Real Estate Investing
While online platforms have made real estate investing more readily accessible for beginners, substantial risks remain, so don't skip the knowledge and planning stage.
To start, ensure you understand your investments' time, money, and maintenance requirements before purchasing.
Direct real estate investments — such as those made through real estate investing platforms — are less liquid than publicly traded securities like stocks. However, publicly traded REITs and real estate ETFs are traded more similarly to stocks, providing greater liquidity.
If you're interested in buying physical property, there's an old saying: "The three most important factors in real estate are location, location, location." Start by getting to know the local market. Talk to real estate agents and locals; find out who lives in the area, who is moving to the area, and why; and analyze the history of property prices.
In short: Do your research and "focus on building relationships with people — because that's what real estate is, it's a relationship-based business," says Dana Bull, licensed real estate agent and advisor at Dana Bull Real Estate Consulting.
Define Your Real Estate Goals
What are you looking to gain from real estate investing, and what risks are you willing to take? As with any investment, you should have a solid understanding of your desired outcome and your limitations.
Common real estate goals include generating passive income, accumulating long-term wealth, and diversifying your portfolio. Understanding your goals can narrow down potential strategies. You can start by asking yourself:
- How passive versus active do you want to be?
- How much time and capital can you commit?
- What level of risk are you willing to take on?
Once you determine your goals and risk tolerance, you can incorporate real estate investments into your financial plan. A financial plan is a guideline for your current and future financial needs and limitations.
Real-Estate Investment Strategies
Some investment strategies are intended for experienced and accredited investors, while others are better suited for beginners. Here are the best investment strategies for beginners.
REITs
One of the best ways to start investing in real estate as a beginner is with a real estate investment trust (REIT). REITs own, operate, or finance properties and real estate ventures, offering market exposure without the time and cost commitment of buying singular properties.
Like mutual funds or ETFs, REITs are assets usually centered on a specific property type, like apartment complexes, hotels, malls, or hospitals. Equity REITs, the most common type of REIT, allow investors to pool their money to fund the purchase, development, and management of real estate properties.
- Publicly traded REITs: "Publicly traded REITs are listed on major stock exchanges. Investors can buy and sell shares of these REITs through brokerage accounts, just like they would with regular stocks. They offer high liquidity and are subject to strict regulatory requirements," says Richard Ratner, senior vice president and investment advisor at Bel Air Investment Advisors.
- Private REITs: Private REITs, on the other hand, aren't listed on public stock exchanges and are often more limited. "Investors may have limited opportunities to redeem or sell their shares, often subject to lock-up periods or specific withdrawal restrictions," Ratner says. "However, private REITs may provide access to a more specialized or exclusive portfolio of real estate assets, which could offer higher returns and risks."
Real Estate Limited Partnerships
A real estate limited partnership (RELP) provides investors with a diversified portfolio of real estate investment opportunities. It allows you to merge your funds with other investors to buy, lease, develop, and sell properties that would be hard to manage or afford independently.
Like REITs, RELPs usually own a pool of properties but differ in structure and are generally more suitable for high-net-worth investors. Primarily, RELPs are a form of private equity — that is, they are not traded on public exchanges.
Online Real Estate Platforms
Online real estate platforms are one of the most accessible and affordable investment strategies for gaining real estate market exposure. Crowdfunding platforms, in particular, are commonly used to raise capital and provide a meeting ground for real estate developers and interested investors.
In exchange for their money, investors receive debt or equity in a development project and, in successful cases, monthly or quarterly distributions.
Direct Real Estate Investment: Owning Property
One classic way to invest in real estate is to buy and lease a property or part of it. Owning property can take many forms.
Purchase a Home
If you want to invest in real estate, look no further than your home. Residential real estate has had its ups and downs but generally appreciates over the long term.
Most folks don't buy a home outright but take out a mortgage. Working to pay it off and owning your home outright is a long-term investment that can protect against the volatility of the real estate market. It's often seen as the step that precedes investing in other types of real estate and has the added benefit of boosting your net worth, since you now own a major asset.
Rental Properties
Another method of directly investing in real estate is owning rental properties and becoming a landlord. For example, you can generate profit by buying a single-family home and collecting payments to cover mortgage, insurance, taxes, and maintenance. Ideally, your monthly mortgage payment will be relatively fixed while rent prices rise, increasing the amount of money you pocket over time.
You can shop for rental properties online through a site like Roofstock. This site allows sellers of vacant homes primed for renters to list their properties, facilitates the buying process, and assigns a property manager to the new buyer.
You may have to face tenant and management risks. "Owning and managing real estate involves responsibilities and potential liabilities, including property management challenges, legal disputes, and compliance issues," Ratner says. "For rental properties, there is a risk of unreliable or non-paying tenants, extended vacancies, or property damage caused by tenants."
House Hacking
Another method of directly investing in real estate is house hacking. House hacking refers to the purchase of multi-unit buildings and living in one of the units while renting out the others. This way, you can decrease the cost of your own living expenses while simultaneously generating income that can cover mortgage payments, taxes, and insurance.
A low-commitment version of house-hacking is renting part of your home via a site like Airbnb, which would allow you some extra monthly cash without committing to taking on a long-term tenant.
On the opposite, more ambitious end, you could aim for a condo conversion, in which you buy a multifamily building, rent out the units, and then later turn them into condos and sell them off individually,
"So the idea is, you buy the building for a little bit of a discount, and then eventually, you're able to sell for top dollar," Bull says.
House Flipping
Though TV shows often make it look easy, "flipping" remains one of the most time-consuming and costly ways to invest in real estate. However, it also has the potential to produce the biggest gains. To be a successful flipper, you should always be prepared for unexpected problems like budget increases, mistakes, a longer renovation timeline, and issues selling on the market.
It's especially important to build a team of experts — contractors, interior designers, attorneys, and accountants — you can trust. And make sure you have the cash reserves to troubleshoot. Even experienced flippers find a project inevitably takes longer and costs more than they think.
Essential Skills for Real Estate Investors
- Market analysis: Like the stock market, the real estate market continuously evolves with emerging trends and economic shifts. What is popular now may not be popular in 10 years, and so on. Therefore, you must develop real estate market analysis skills to stay on top of potentially profitable investment opportunities.
- Financial analysis: To evaluate potential investment opportunities and track the progress of your investments, you must be well-versed in different financial analysis metrics, such as cap rate, cash flow, and ROI. Some real estate apps offer data analysis tools to help you keep track.
- Negotiation: Beginners don't typically need negotiation skills when investing in real estate through crowdfunding platforms or REITs, but there may come a time when such skill could get you a more favorable offer when purchasing or selling a home.
- Property management: If you directly manage a property, whether as a landlord or homeowner, you'll want to be knowledgeable in property management. Ensure you understand the processes and costs of maintaining a property, screening tenants, and lease agreements.
Resources for Beginner Investors
Beginners can consider the following resources to learn about real estate investing.
Real Estate Books
Books are some of the best ways to learn about new topics, even real estate. There are plenty of beginner-friendly books and guides on how to start investing in the real estate market. But you should do some background information on the author and readers' reactions to the text.
One book to consider is "The Book on Rental Property Investing" by Brandon Turner, which is one of Business Insider's picks for the best investing books.
Other notable real estate books worth checking out include:
- "The Warren Buffet Way" By Robert G. Hagstrom
- "The Real Estate Investor's Guide to Flipping Houses" By J. Scott
- "The Intelligent Investor" By Benjamin Graham
Local Real Estate Investment Clubs
Connecting with local real estate investment enthusiasts can be a great way to engage with the real estate community and expand your knowledge. However, depending on where you live, this may prove difficult. If there isn't a local real estate investment club in your area, consider starting one through your local library or community center. You also have the option of joining an online real estate investment club via social media or online forum.
Real Estate Agents and Brokers
Often, the best way to research a topic is by going to the experts. In this case, that's real estate agents and brokers. If you already have an existing broker or financial advisor, set up a chat to talk over the basics of real estate investing and how it can fit into your financial plan. You can also consider contacting local real estate agents to see if they want to review the basics and recommend valuable resources.
How to Choose a Real Estate Investing App
The best real estate investing app for you depends on your investment goals, risk tolerance, time horizon, and how much you're willing to invest.
Most online real estate investing platforms allow traders to customize a portfolio based on their preferences. However, not all crowdfunding platforms are universally available, as many require you to be an accredited investor. Still, many popular real estate platforms like Groundfloor and Fundrise accept nonaccredited investors.
Investing in REITs or through crowdfunding platforms tends to be cheaper than direct investments, which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. These beginner-friendly platforms have much more affordable minimums. Fundrise, for example, has a $10 minimum investment.
Why You Should Trust Us: Our Expert Panel For The Real Estate Investing Apps
We interviewed the following investing experts to see what they had to say about the best real estate investing apps.
- Sandra Cho, RIA, wealth manager, and CEO of Pointwealth Capital Management
- Tessa Campbell, Investment and retirement reporter at Personal Finance Insider
What are the advantages/disadvantages of investing in real estate?
Sandra Cho:
"Advantages include:
- It's tangible. Some people like real estate because they can see, touch, and feel it.
- Rent. You can get a tenant and get income.
- DIY. You can fix it yourself and save money. If you are handy, you can do many things yourself.
- Depreciation. You can depreciate it as an asset."
"Disadvantages:
- Maintenance. A property can be a money pit, with almost constant things to fix and clean and maintain, including a new roof, paint, floors, plumbing, and electricity. These are all do-able; just make sure you budget about 1% of the cost of the house for maintenance.
- Renter headaches. Renters can have more power than the landlord. They can pay late or not at all, damage the property, and, in general, cause more trouble than they are worth.
- Fees. Property tax, HOA fees if you own a condo, utilities,"
Tessa Campbell:
"Investing in real estate provides a series of advantages such as a long-term appreciation, increased asset control, portfolio diversification, a hedge against market volatility, and access to a passive cash flow. Investors may also be able to benefit from tax advantages like tax-free capital gains and deductions in interest.
"But just like with any investment, there's no guarantee that your real-estate investments will be successful. This can be a significant disadvantage as investing in real estate is generally more expensive than other, more liquid assets like stocks or bonds. Other downsides of investing in real estate are the long-term commitment, extensive fees, high minimums, and overall illiquidity."
Who should consider investing in real estate?
Sandra Cho:
"People who already have a diversified traditional investment account and have excess funds they would like to invest in an alternative asset class."
Tessa Campbell:
"You should consider investing in real estate if you have the funds to meet the high minimums and are looking for long-term alternative investment options to gain passive cash flow, hedge against inflation, and diversify your investment portfolio."
Is there any advice you'd offer someone investing in real estate?
Sandra Cho:
"Your primary residence is also real estate, so bear that in mind so you don't put all your money in one asset class. Make sure you have stocks, bonds, and cash as well. Having these more liquid investments will be important when the property needs repair, doesn't rent out immediately, or worse, the renters stop paying; and in the possible (but unlikely) event of a catastrophic event like a pipe burst or natural disaster,"
Tessa Campbell:
"Make sure to do your research before investing in real estate properties. For example, location is a huge aspect of successful real estate investing, as knowing the local community, market, and history of property prices can make a huge difference."
How to Evaluate a Real-Estate Investing App
Our mission at Business Insider is to help smart people make the best decisions with their money. We know that "best" is often subjective, so we highlight a financial product's clear benefits and any limitations with Business Insider's rating methodology for investing platforms.
We spent hours comparing and contrasting real estate investing apps' features and fine print so you don't have to. We reviewed over a dozen real estate investing app crowdfunding platforms to determine the best options for low fees, liquidity, investment types, and account features.
Methodology: How We Reviewed The Best Real Estate Investing Apps
We reviewed and compared over a dozen real estate investing platforms using Business Insider methodology for reviewing investment platforms to determine the best platforms for buying and investing in real estate properties and REITs.
FAQs
Are real estate investing apps safe?
Reputable real estate investing apps are safe and prioritize protecting users' assets and personal information. Many public REITs are registered with the SEC. But before opening an account, make sure to look into a company's background and the security measures it takes.
What are the risks of investing in real estate through apps?
The main risk of investing in real estate through apps is the potential for quick, uninformed decision-making. Investing in real estate is not only risky but also expensive. The convenience of mobile real estate apps may cause some individuals to make bad investment decisions without proper research or risk assessment.
Do I need to be an accredited investor to use real estate investing apps?
You don't need to be an accredited investor to use a real estate investing app. There are plenty of real estate investing apps that cater to both accredited and non-accredited investors. However, some platforms require you to be accredited to use
How can I find good real estate deals?
You can find good real estate deals by being well-informed on current market trends and economic outlooks. The more knowledge you have of the real estate market and local areas, the better informed your decisions will be. You can also consider consulting a financial advisor or real estate agent for greater insight.
