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Best Of · Real Estate

Best Real Estate Investing Platforms of 2026

Private real estate used to mean a five-figure check and an accreditation letter. Today you can get exposure for $10. Here are the two platforms we'd point most readers to first — and two more worth knowing.

Pricing verified July 2026

Our picks

Best Overall / Best for Beginners

Fundrise

Partner

Private real estate, private credit, and venture — with a $10 minimum.

Best for Accredited Investors

EquityMultiple

Partner

Vetted commercial real estate deals with roughly a 5% acceptance rate.

At-a-glance comparison

PlatformMinimumAccredited?FeesLiquidityBest for
Fundrise$10 ($1,000 IRA)No~1% all-in (RE funds); 1.85% Innovation FundQuarterly, ~1% early-redemption penalty <5 yrBeginners
EquityMultiple$5K–$30K+ typicalYes~0.5–1.5% + fees vary by dealHighly illiquid, 5–7+ yr holdsAccredited CRE investors
Arrived$100NoProperty + management fees varyIlliquidFractional SFR exposure
RealtyMogul$5,000BothVaries by REIT / placementIlliquidAccredited + non-accredited mix

Fundrise

Partner

Private real estate, private credit, and venture — with a $10 minimum.

Pricing

$10 minimum (standard) · $1,000 for IRAs · Non-accredited OK

Fees

0.15% annual advisory + 0.85% flat annual management on real estate funds (Innovation Fund 1.85%)

Liquidity

Quarterly redemption windows; ~1% penalty on eREIT/eFund shares held under 5 years

Pros
  • Just $10 to start — one of the lowest minimums in private real estate
  • Open to non-accredited investors
  • Transparent ~1% all-in fee structure
  • IRA accounts supported
Cons
  • Illiquid — quarterly redemptions are not guaranteed
  • Multi-fund fee structure can confuse newcomers
  • Built for 5+ year holds
Best for: Beginners who want private real estate exposure without a five-figure check.

Fundrise runs eREITs and eFunds that hold private real estate, plus an Innovation Fund for late-stage venture. You buy shares in the funds directly through the platform — no accredited paperwork required.

EquityMultiple

Partner

Vetted commercial real estate deals with roughly a 5% acceptance rate.

Pricing

$5,000 minimum (Alpine Notes / Ascent Income Fund) · Typical individual-deal minimums $10K–$30K · Accredited only

Fees

Varies by deal — roughly 0.5%–1.5% annual + possible origination fees + $30–$70 annual admin

Liquidity

Highly illiquid — target holds 5–7+ years

Pros
  • Institutional-quality vetted CRE deals (~5% acceptance)
  • Range of structures: senior debt, preferred equity, common equity, funds
  • $5K entry via Alpine Notes / Ascent Income Fund
Cons
  • Accredited investors only
  • Per-deal fee structure can be complex
  • Highly illiquid, single-deal concentration risk
Best for: Accredited investors who want institutional-style CRE with a range of deal structures.

EquityMultiple sources commercial real estate deals from sponsors nationwide, underwrites them, and offers accredited investors debt, preferred equity, and common equity positions — plus a couple of pooled funds.

Also worth knowing

  • ArrivedFractional single-family rental shares from $100.
  • RealtyMogulREITs and private placements for both accredited and non-accredited investors.

How we chose

What we looked at

Minimum investment, whether accreditation is required, transparent all-in fees, liquidity mechanics, and the honesty of each platform's marketing about what a private-market investment actually is.

What we didn't do

We didn't rank based on advertised historical returns — private real estate returns are lumpy, deal-specific, and often reported in ways that make comparisons unfair. Fees, minimums, and liquidity are what you can actually compare apples-to-apples.

Partner disclosure

Fundrise and EquityMultiple links on this page are partner links — if you sign up, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. The other platforms we mention are not partners; we included them because they're relevant.