Our experts answer readers’ investing questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess investing products). Paid non-client promotion: In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners. Our opinions are always our own.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.Fundrise allows you to invest in commercial real estate projects across the US, Fundrise IPOs, and venture funds.$101% (additional $125 for IRAs)Fundrise is one of the best real estate investing apps for non-accredited investors looking to make long-term investments in real estate and venture funds. The platform accepts clients regardless of annual income or net worth.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.If you want to invest in more than REITs, consider some of the best online brokerages like Vanguard and Charles Schwab. Online brokers offer low fees, multiple account options (including retirement plans), financial planning services, and much more. 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.FundriseFundrise is a real estate investing app with a $10 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.Fundrise reviewDiversyFund DiversyFund offers a generally low $500, 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 2% annual asset management fee and a closing real estate transaction fee. 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.Diversyfund reviewRoofstockRoofstock is another unique real estate investing app and is best for active investors. For a $0 ($5,000 for Roofstock One) 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.Roofstock reviewRealtyMogulRealtyMogul 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 $5,000 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 $5,000.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. RealtyMogul reviewEquityMultipleEquityMultiple is best for accredited investors looking to invest in a wide variety of assets and that have at least $5,000 (minimums can also range between $10,000 and $30,000) 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: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.EquityMultiple reviewCrowdstreetWith a $25,000 (up to $250,000 for some offerings) minimum investment requirement, CrowdStreet specifically serves accredited investors. The platform lets you invest in commercial real estate in three ways: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 $25,000 (up to $250,000 for some offerings) 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.Crowdstreet reviewYieldstreetYieldstreet offers real estate and other alternative investments to accredited investors who have at least $500 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.Yieldstreet reviewGroundfloorGroundfloor is a wealthtech platform best for short-term real estate debt investments through SEC-qualified Limited Recourse Obligations (LROs) and notes. There’s a $1,000 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 $1,000 and may charge additional service fees on loans. It also costs $1,250 for closing, plus $495 on loan applications. Groundfloor reviewCrowdfunding 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. 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. 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.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. 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. 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. 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. 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: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. 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: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. 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.Yieldstreet offers investments in real estate, shipping vessels, legal settlements, art, and financial instruments$5000% to 2.5%; 1.5% for Prism FundYieldstreet is best for experienced, high-income/high-net-worth investors, but folks who don’t have six figures to invest with private equity firms or hedge funds should look elsewhere. Yieldstreet is one of the best real estate investing apps for folks interested in real estate and alternative investments.Groundfloor offers SEC-qualified (under SEC regulation A+) real estate note investments$1,0002% to 4.5% interest on loansGroundfloor is best for experienced and passive investors, looking to profit from short-term real estate investments. There are no management fees, and it offers shorter investment terms than some competitors.EquityMultiple offers managed assets — including equity, preferred equity, institutional commercial real estate, and senior debt$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)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.CrowdStreet offers institutional-level investments (those that are usually available to public entities and larger-scale investors) in commercial real estate.$25,000 (up to $250,000 for some offerings)0% investors; 1-5% fee for sponsors; 0.25% to 2.5% tailored portfoliosCrowdStreet is one of the best real estate investing apps for active and passive accredited investors who want access to a wide range of commercial real estate investments.Fundrise allows you to invest in commercial real estate projects across the US, Fundrise IPOs, and venture funds.$101% (additional $125 for IRAs)Fundrise is one of the best real estate investing apps for non-accredited investors looking to make long-term investments in real estate and venture funds. The platform accepts clients regardless of annual income or net worth.DiversyFund offers private commercial real estate investments to both accredited investors and nonaccredited investors (or people with less than $1 million to invest).$5002% annual asset management fee and a closing real estate transaction feeDiversyFund is one of the best real estate investing apps for non-accredited investors who don’t mind waiting five years to see their investments grow. It’s also available to accredited investors.Roofstock is an online real estate platform that lets you buy or sell rental properties$0 ($5,000 for Roofstock One)$500 or 0.5% of the contract price for offers on propertiesRoofstock is one of the best real estate investing apps for hands-on investors looking to trade actual rental properties. Both accredited and non-accredited investors can use the platform to invest in single-family rental homes with no minimum requirement.RealtyMogul offers a wide range of real estate investment options$5,000Varies by investmentRealtyMogul is one of the best real estate investing apps for buying and selling commercial real estate. It’s ideal for investors interested in earning regular returns from public, non-traded REITs.
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