The best real estate crowdfunding platforms give you fractional access to property income and appreciation with minimal effort and manageable capital requirements.
In this guide, you’ll compare five top-rated platforms based on return potential, minimum investment, investor access, and commercial or residential deal types.
Can Non‑Accredited Investors Use Real Estate Crowdfunding?
Yes, you can participate in several high-performing platforms without being an accredited investor. Fundrise, Arrived, and parts of RealtyMogul are open to all U.S.-based retail investors.
This means you can start investing in income-generating real estate without holding a high net worth or salary. Fundrise begins at $500, Arrived at $100, and Addy (for Canadian users) at just $1. That access opens the door to real estate’s long-term wealth-building potential without full ownership risk.
What Kind of Returns Can You Expect from Real Estate Crowdfunding?
Returns vary by platform and deal type. Fundrise reports historical annualized returns of 8% to 10.1%, depending on your plan and investment window. CrowdStreet has published internal rate of return (IRR) averages above 17% on completed commercial real estate offerings.
Arrived distributes rental income quarterly, averaging 4.5% to 7% annual cash yield. RealtyMogul’s public non-traded REITs generally target 6% to 8% returns, with some potential for appreciation. While returns are not guaranteed, most platforms offer transparent reporting and projected timeframes (typically 3–7 years) to help you assess performance risk.
Platform 1: Fundrise – Best for Passive Income and Diversification
You start with Fundrise if you’re looking for accessible, diversified real estate investing with low fees and long-term stability. With a $500 minimum, Fundrise builds your portfolio across residential and commercial assets using eREITs and eFunds.
It requires no accreditation and offers tiered portfolios—Core, Income, Growth, and Premium—tailored to different investor profiles. Fundrise charges 1% in annual asset management fees and provides clear quarterly updates, liquidity options, and automated reinvestment. You gain exposure to apartment complexes, mixed-use properties, and industrial assets across multiple U.S. metros without selecting individual deals.
Platform 2: CrowdStreet – Best for Accredited Investors Seeking Higher IRR
If you’re an accredited investor seeking institutional-grade commercial property, CrowdStreet delivers full access to vetted sponsors and direct project listings. Minimum investments typically start at $25,000 per deal, and each offering includes projected IRRs, hold periods, and risk ratings.
You choose from Class A multifamily, office renovations, hotel rehabs, or industrial portfolios—often with sponsors like Greystar or Trammell Crow. CrowdStreet provides deep sponsor background checks, exit strategy detail, and historical performance transparency. It’s best suited for experienced investors seeking above-market returns and willing to accept longer holding periods with higher risk.
Platform 3: RealtyMogul – Best Hybrid Model for Flexible Investing
You turn to RealtyMogul when you want the option to invest in public REITs or individual real estate deals. For non‑accredited investors, their Mogul REIT I and II offer diversified exposure starting at $5,000. Accredited users can access private placements in multifamily, office, or retail properties.
RealtyMogul vets all sponsors and properties, publishes investor dashboards, and maintains low fee transparency. You can customize your allocations or rely on the platform’s prepackaged REIT options for broader diversification. With more than $1 billion in total transactions funded, it’s one of the longest-standing players in the space.
Platform 4: EquityMultiple – Best for Advanced Diversified Structures
EquityMultiple focuses exclusively on accredited investors seeking exposure to debt, preferred equity, and common equity structures across commercial real estate. Minimums range from $5,000 to $20,000 depending on the investment type, and IRRs can exceed 12–15% on select offerings.
You gain access to risk-adjusted deal tiers—fixed-income debt products, value-add property deals, or opportunistic equity with higher upside. EquityMultiple performs due diligence on every sponsor and publishes detailed investment memos. It also offers unique products like short-term note funds and tax-deferred 1031 eligible options.
Platform 5: Arrived – Best for Single-Family Rental Ownership
Arrived is ideal if you want to invest directly in rental homes with as little as $100. You purchase fractional shares in cash-flowing rental properties across U.S. cities like Atlanta, Phoenix, and Charlotte. Arrived handles all property management, leasing, and maintenance.
You earn rental income quarterly and benefit from long-term home value appreciation. Unlike REITs, you see and select specific homes based on neighborhood, condition, tenant status, and projected cash yield. This model works for passive investors focused on income without operational involvement.
What is the best real estate crowdfunding platform?
- Fundrise: best for passive investors and eREIT access
- CrowdStreet: best for high-return commercial projects
- Arrived: best for single-family rental income with low minimum
In Conclusion
You now have a detailed overview of the five best real estate crowdfunding platforms, each serving different capital levels, risk profiles, and experience tiers. Fundrise offers automated diversification at a low cost. CrowdStreet caters to accredited investors with commercial upside. RealtyMogul balances REIT simplicity with private deal access. EquityMultiple suits those seeking structured investment strategies. And Arrived simplifies single-family rental ownership. Choose based on your liquidity preference, yield expectations, and how actively you want to manage your real estate exposure.
Real estate investing doesn’t have to start with millions. I’ve explored 5 platforms that make it accessible to anyone—from Fundrise to Arrived. Dive into the full review now on my Medium.

Suneet Singal is Chairman of First Capital and a finance/real estate entrepreneur with 22+ years leading public and private companies across real estate, finance, renewable energy, and FinTech. He specializes in deal structuring, capital raising, and strategic investments, and supports education through national scholarships.
