Real estate was a game for folks with acres of capital, credit history, and connections to the right brokers. No more. Real estate investment apps have changed the way we invest in property in ways that would have been impossible to imagine a decade ago. Complete beginners can now invest in real estate with as little as $10, spread their investments across dozens of properties without ever owning a property outright, and generate passive rental income directly from their phone.
However, the increase in real estate apps means more platforms competing for your money, each with its own structures, risk profiles, fees and minimum commitments. As a rookie, you risk making the wrong choice of app, especially one with high fees, illiquid assets or a complex structure you don’t fully understand. What could be an exciting investment plan can quickly turn into an expensive lesson.
This guide reviews the best real estate investment apps for beginners in 2026, how they work, minimum investment and what type of investor each platform is suitable for.
How the Way Apps are Changing Real Estate Investing for Beginners
Traditional real estate investing requires a lot of capital – a 20% down payment on even a modest rental property is $40,000 to $80,000 in cash, plus closing costs, maintenance reserves and the ongoing complexity of being a landlord. Most new investors don’t have the capital or the risk appetite.
Here are two ways real estate investment applications accomplish this:
- Real estate crowdfunding is the combined investment of a group of individuals to obtain funds for the purchase or development of property. Returns are based on rental revenue and/or property appreciation. This is the model platforms like Fundrise and RealtyMogul use.
- Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are companies that own income-producing real estate and are legally obligated to distribute at least 90% of their taxable income to shareholders. Apps such as Arrived and Streitwise allow access to non-traded REITs or direct property shares with low minimums.
Both ways provide novices a taste of real estate, including rental income and appreciation, without the capital demands, admin obligations or legal complications of direct ownership of property.
What Can You Expect From A Real Estate Investment App?
Before looking at certain platforms, here’s what novices should remember:
- Minimum investment – some systems have a minimum of $500 to $1,000, while others allow you to get started with as little as $10-$100. Match the minimum to what you start with.
- Accredited Investors vs Non-Accredited Investors – SEC rules used to restrict many real estate investments to “accredited investors” (earning over $200K/year or net worth above $1M excluding personal residence). The good news for most investors new to the game is that many platforms now include options for non-accredited investors.
- Liquidity – real estate is inherently illiquid. See if you can get out early and what will it cost you.
- Fee structure – management charges, platform fees and asset management fees all come straight out of returns. Don’t just look at headline returns – look at the total fees.
- Different types of investments – Residential or Commercial, Equity or Debt, Short term or Long term. Different categories have different risk and return profiles.
- Track record and transparency – select platforms that disclose previous performance, provide transparent information on individual investments and disclose risks and fees honestly.
- Tax concerns – real estate investments generate 1099s, K-1s and typically complex depreciation pass-throughs. Know what you’re investing in.
The Best Real Estate Investing Apps for Beginners
1. Fundrise
Fundrise is the most popular real estate crowdfunding platform for beginners, and it’s easy to see why. It’s accessible to non-accredited investors, and you can start investing for as little as $10. Its eREIT and eFund structure automatically diversifies your money across dozens of properties, rather than making you choose individual deals.
Fundrise employs a diversified portfolio approach, meaning you choose a strategy (supplemental income, balanced investment, or long-term growth) and Fundrise distributes it across residential and commercial properties that match that profile. And it deals with everything from acquiring the property to tenant management, maintenance and final disposition.
The platform has very extensive quarterly reports and information on historical performance. Fundrise has generated returns between 8% and 12% annually since inception, depending on the strategy and period of time, but past performance is not indicative of future results.
The primary disadvantage for beginners: liquidity. Fundrise assets are not publicly traded – you’re usually locked in for at least 5 years with limited quarterly redemption options. That’s great for long term investors, but not if you may need the money in the short run.
Best for: Total newbies looking for broad real estate exposure with a very low minimum; long-term investors that are okay with illiquid assets.
Minimum Investment: $10
Accredited Investor: No
Fees: 0.15% advisory fee + 0.85% management fee = 1% annually
2. Arrived
Arrived (formerly Arrived homes) allows first-time investors to buy fractional shares in specific single-family rental homes – picking which homes they want to invest in and earning rental income and appreciation based on the percentage of the home they own. The minimum amount to be invested in each property is $100.
The process is simple and intuitive: explore listings of properties on offer, check purchase price, estimated rent, expected returns and area information, and invest from $100 upwards. Arrived handles the property, you receive distributions from rental income quarterly and you realize appreciation when the property is sold (typically after 5-7 years).
Along with long-term rentals, Arrived includes short-term vacation rental homes, providing investors with more options in today’s real estate landscape. In 2024, Arrived developed a new fund product (the Arrived Single Family Residential Fund) that allows first-time investors who aren’t ready to buy specific homes to spread their money across many properties.
Best for: persons who want to invest in specific properties they can research themselves, persons specifically looking to invest in single-family residential real estate.
Minimum investment: $100 per property.
Accredited Investor Required: No
Fees: 3.5% sourcing fee per property, 8% annual management fee
3. RealtyMogul.com
RealtyMogul features non-accredited investor options (via its REITs) and accredited investor opportunities (individual deals). MogulREIT I is an income-focused REIT while MogulREIT II is growth-focused. Both REITs provide newcomers with the opportunity to obtain diverse exposure to commercial real estate for as little as $5,000.
RealtyMogul’s strength is its due diligence standards (it accepts less than 1% of the deals it looks at) and commercial real estate focus (apartments, offices, retail, industrial) which gives diversification beyond the residential focus of Fundrise and Arrived.
The $5,000 minimum is higher than Fundrise or Arrived, therefore it’s less appropriate for investors who are new to the game with lower amounts. But for those with more resources looking for exposure to commercial real estate and better screening, it’s an attractive option.
Best for: Investors with $5,000 or more to invest and a desire for exposure to commercial real estate with tight standards for screening deals.
Minimum investment: $5,000 (REITs)
Accredited investor: No (REITs) Yes (individual deals)
Fees: 1 – 1.25% per year REIT fees
4. Streitwise
Streitwise is a commercial real estate (office and retail) investor with a non-traded REIT structure and is open to non-accredited investors with a $5,000 minimum. Its greatest strength is its openness. Streitwise is internally managed (most REITs are externally managed which introduces possible conflicts of interest). They also offer full performance information including dividend history.
It has paid quarterly distributions since inception and has targeted 8-9% a year which would be attractive to new investors searching for income. But Streitwise offers a more concentrated portfolio (fewer properties) than Fundrise, so you’re more vulnerable to how any one property performs.
Best for: Income-seeking beginners looking to pull their money out of commercial real estate with regular dividends, investors who prefer straightforward fee structures and direct management.
Minimum Investment: $5,000
Accredited Investor: No
Fees: 2% per year (managed internally, no external manager markup)
5. Groundfloor
Groundfloor is unique compared to the other platforms on this list since it provides real estate debt investments, not equity investments (owning a piece of a property). You lend to real estate developers who are searching for short term repair and flip projects and you get interest income (typically 7-14% per year) over 6-18 months each loan.
The short-term nature makes Groundfloor the most liquid option on our list because loans mature in months, not years, recouping cash significantly faster than stock investments. The downside is that as a lender you don’t get the benefit of property appreciation, as an owner does. You can only get back the rate of interest.
It is quite economical with a minimum commitment of only $10 every loan. Groundfloor allows you to diversify across numerous short-term loans at one time to mitigate risk and allows non-accredited investors.
Best for: Beginners seeking shorter investment horizons and more liquidity than stock platforms, and income-focused investors not seeking long-term appreciation.
Minimum investment: $10 per loan
Accredited investor required: No
Costs: No costs to investors (Groundfloor charges borrowers)
6. Roofstock
Roofstock, however, is more fundamental. It is a real estate marketplace that buys and sells genuine single-family rental properties, many of which have existing tenants living in them. Roofstock is for investors who want to acquire an entire rental property, not fractional ownership systems like the one above.
The user-friendly part is Roofstock One, which offers non-accredited investors fractional shares in Roofstock-approved rental properties starting at $5,000. It provides new investors with access to Roofstock’s handpicked property selection and due diligence, without buying a whole home.
Roofstock’s marketplace for first-time landlords provides full property data, tenant history, location information and property management references, making the acquisition of a whole property easier than normal real estate transactions.
Best for: Novices considering their eventual transition to direct rental property ownership, investors seeking fractional or full single-family rental exposure supported by institutional-grade due diligence.
Minimum Investment: $5,000 (Roofstock One). Full property purchase requires regular down payment
Accredited investor required: No (Roofstock One)
Fees: Buyers pay a 0.5% marketplace charge; sellers pay a 3% fee
7. Yieldstreet
Yieldstreet brings alternative investments in a variety of asset sectors including real estate debt & equity, art, legal finance and more. It provides real estate products such as short term bridge loans, commercial real estate equity and multi-asset funds. And, the Yieldstreet Prism Fund, which is available to non-accredited investors with a $2,500 minimum commitment, provides diversified exposure across asset classes including real estate.
For individuals new to real estate looking to add it to a broader alternative investment portfolio, Yieldstreet’s multi-asset approach is worth considering, but not as a standalone plan.
Best for: Diversification for novices into numerous alternative asset classes including property.
Minimum Investment: $2,500 (Prism Fund)
Accredited Investor Required: Depends on the offering (there are a few possibilities for non-accredited investors)
Fees: Management fee of 0-2.5% depending on the product
Comparison of Best Real Estate Apps for Beginners
| Platform | Minimum Investment | Non-Accredited | Type | Liquidity | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fundrise | $10 | Yes | eREIT (diversified) | Low | ~1% |
| Arrived | $100 | Yes | Single-family dwellings | Low | ~11.5% |
| RealtyMogul | $5,000 | Yes (REIT) | Commercial REIT | Low | 1-1.25% |
| Streitwise | $5,000 | Yes | Commercial REIT | Low | 2% |
| Groundfloor | $10 | Yes | Real estate loans | Moderate | None |
| Roofstock One | $5,000 | Yes | Single-family homes | Low | 0.5% |
| Yieldstreet | $2,500 | Varies | Multi-asset/Real Estate debt | Low-Medium | 0-2.5% |
How to Choose the Best Real Estate App for Beginners
The right platform has 3 important ingredients:
- What is the amount you want to invest? If you have less than $500 to invest, you have your budget-friendly options on Fundrise ($10 minimum) or Groundfloor ($10 minimum). With Arrived, you may invest in individual properties starting at $100 and up to $5,000 in any one home. On RealtyMogul and Streitwise, you can invest in commercial real estate for as little as $5,000.
- Do you want cash? Equity investments in real estate crowdfunding are not for you if you could require this money in three to five years. Most liquid option is short term debt investments offered by Groundfloor (6-18 months). All other platforms have significant lock-up periods.
- What type of return are you after? If you want to generate income monthly cash dividends, check out Streitwise, Groundfloor, or the income method of Fundrise. Arrived or Fundrise are strong bets for growth-minded beginners who are willing to wait for appreciation.
Dangers Every Newcomer Should Know
Like any other investment, real estate investing apps come with a number of particular risks and beginners should know about them before investing:
- Illiquidity risk – most platforms offer limited or zero early exit options. You might not see your money again for years.
- Platform risk – what happens to your investments if the platform itself fails. Invest with platforms with proven processes to protect investors’ assets in the case of insolvency of the platform.
- Market risk – During an economic slump, real estate values fall. But we observed during the 2008 financial crisis that even residential real estate may lose value — 30-50%. Diversification among platforms and property types helps to lessen this risk, but does not remove it.
- Concentration risk – A small number of attributes (common for Arrived) suggests you have a concentrated danger. Returns could be significantly influenced by a bad tenant, natural disaster or depression in the local market.
- Tax Complexity – Real estate investments sometimes produce K-1 tax forms with depreciation pass thrus that make tax filing more complicated. Budget for additional tax prep fees, if any.
- Start small – only put in what you can truly afford to lose – diversify your funds over a range of different platforms and styles of investment before you put big money into any one option.
Final Thoughts
Your optimal real estate investment app will depend on your initial cash, risk appetite and investment time horizon. For most total newcomers, the lowest friction path in will be Fundrise’s $10 minimum and considerable diversification. Arrived is an excellent platform for newcomers to research and choose certain properties. Groundfloor is great for investors seeking more speed and liquidity than traditional real estate investing.
Whatever you choose, start small, understand the fee structure and liquidity terms, and think of real estate applications as part of a diversified investing strategy—not your complete portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the best real estate investment app for absolute beginners?
Fundrise is the best place to start for most novice investors. $10 minimum investment, you don’t need to be an accredited investor, automated diversification over hundreds of properties, and it’s a simple strategy-based approach where you don’t have to pick individual deals.
2. Can you buy property for $100?
Yes, Fundrise starts at $10, Groundfloor starts at $10 per loan and Arrived starts at $100 per property. New investors can start getting exposure to real estate with relatively small amounts of capital on these platforms but rewards on small amounts will be limited.
3. Is a real estate investing app safe?
They are regulated investments – Fundrise, RealtyMogul and others file with the SEC – but all investments carry risk including loss of capital. Accounts at FDIC insured banks. The platforms are controlled. You can lose money on real estate values. The platform could go out of business (not likely for the large guys).
4. What is the profit potential of a real estate investing app?
The platforms suggested have generated returns of 7-12% each year historically, but this can vary widely depending on the platform, type of investment and market conditions. Figures are estimated income and appreciation and are not guaranteed.
5. Can you make money using real estate investment applications as a non-accredited investor?
Yes, the majority of platforms we’ve listed, such Fundrise, Arrived, Groundfloor, RealtyMogul’s REITs, and Streitwise, are open to non-accredited investors. The SEC’s Regulation A+ and Regulation Crowdfunding have opened up various avenues for real estate investments that were previously solely accessible to the wealthy.
