Real Estate Investing in 2026
Start investing in real estate with as little as $10. Compare platforms, strategies, and learn how to build wealth through property.
Quick Answer
For beginners, Fundrise lets you start with just $10 and offers diversified real estate portfolios averaging 8-12% returns. For fractional rental property ownership, Arrived offers shares starting at $100. Accredited investors can access higher returns (12-18%) through CrowdStreet's commercial deals.
Ways to Invest in Real Estate
REITs
Buy shares of real estate portfolios through your brokerage. Highly liquid, low minimums, dividend income. Best for passive investors.
Rental Properties
Buy and rent out residential or commercial properties. Higher returns but requires capital, management, and knowledge.
Crowdfunding
Invest in real estate projects through online platforms. Low minimums ($10-$5,000), diversified exposure.
House Flipping
Buy undervalued properties, renovate, and sell for profit. High returns but requires expertise and capital.
Top Real Estate Investing Platforms
| Feature | Fundrise | Arrived | Roofstock | CrowdStreet | RealtyMogul |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | Beginners, passive income | Fractional rental properties | Single-family rentals | Accredited investors, commercial | REITs and private placements |
| Minimum | $10 | $100 | $50,000+ | $25,000 | $5,000 |
| Avg Returns | 8-12% avg | 5-10% avg | 6-12% avg | 12-18% avg | 8-15% avg |
| Rating | 4.7/5 | 4.6/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.4/5 | 4.4/5 |
Getting Started: Step by Step
- Define your goals: Passive income, appreciation, or both? This determines your strategy.
- Assess your budget: You can start with $10 on Fundrise or $100 on Arrived. Traditional rentals need $30,000-$50,000+.
- Choose your strategy: REITs for passive, rentals for active, crowdfunding for a middle ground.
- Research the market: Look at population growth, job markets, rent trends, and appreciation history.
- Start small and diversify: Don't put all your money in one property or platform. Spread risk across markets and property types.
Start Real Estate Investing with $10
Fundrise makes real estate investing accessible to everyone. Build a diversified portfolio of private real estate with as little as $10.
Start InvestingAffiliate link: we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Disclosure.
If you are an accredited investor
Fundrise and Arrived are open to everyone. Two platforms on this page are not: they require accreditation (broadly, $200K+ income for two years or $1M+ net worth excluding your home). If you clear that bar, they open up institutional commercial real estate and private-market deals that retail platforms cannot offer.
- EquityMultiple — individual commercial real estate deals with stated target returns, $5,000 minimum on most offerings. Best if you want to pick specific properties rather than buy a blended fund.
- Willow Wealth (formerly YieldStreet) — private-market investing across real estate, private credit and other alternatives in one account. Best if you want breadth beyond real estate alone.
Not accredited? Stick with the platforms above — these two will turn you away at verification, and neither is a better starting point than a $10 Fundrise account.
Frequently Asked Questions
8-12%
Avg annual return
$10
Min investment
$1.3T
US REIT market cap
2M+
Investors on Fundrise
Our methodology: We research, test, and verify every opportunity to ensure accuracy and value.
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