10 Best Real Estate Crowdfunding Sites for Non-Accredited Investors in 2023

So you want to invest in real estate but aren’t an accredited investor. No problem! You don’t need accreditation to benefit from real estate investments.

For decades, real estate has been an excellent tool for the ultra-wealthy to generate healthy returns. Unfortunately, in some instances, investing in real estate required significant financial resources or being accredited as an investor. Until now, thanks to the rise of real estate crowdfunding.

Thanks to changes in legislation, investing in real estate has become easier than ever before and crowdfunding platforms are using this to their advantage.

We created a list of the best real estate crowdfunding sites for non-accredited investors. In this article, you will find many options that help you add real estate to your investment portfolio.

We will give you an overview of what makes the platforms unique and provide insight into the pros and cons of every site. Once you’re done, you will know which one suits your needs best.

10 Best Real Estate Crowdfunding Sites for Non-Accredited Investors

Where to get started is probably one of the most challenging questions when real estate is involved. While real estate investment trusts are typically the first investments of most investors, they don’t have to be. To give you an overview, we created the list below. These are the best real estate crowdfunding sites for non-accredited investors. Moreover, make sure to read our how to invest in real estate guide.

1. Fundrise: Best Overall

One of the biggest and most popular choices for non-accredited investors is Fundrise. It’s an excellent option for new investors who want to get their feet wet with institutional-quality commercial and residential real estate.

Investors can choose from five different account levels that all have distinctive features (but also growing minimum investments) and invest in diversified, low-cost portfolios. The Starter account level is accessible for just $10 and allows you to reinvest your dividends, set up automatic investments, and create an investor goal.

It’s great that you can grow with the platform and don’t need any other crowdfunding site. Moreover, the fees come in at 1% per year, which is reasonable for what you get. The 0.15% advisory fee can even be waived if you refer people to the platform.

You should view investments with Fundrise as long-term (five or more years) because penalties for early redemptions apply. Plus, at 10.1% in average annualized returns (positive every year), it makes sense to let your money work for you on the platform. Read our full Fundrise review to learn more.

Pros:

• Low fees
• $10 investment minimum
• Easy to use dashboard
• Self-directed IRA investing
• Share redemption program
• Income from dividends and capital appreciation
• Dividends can be reinvested

Cons:

• Highly illiquid investments
• No individual deals
• Investors have to do the due diligence themselves
• Customer support only available via e-mail

2. RealtyMogul: Best For Automated Investing

Another platform offering institutional-quality commercial real estate to unaccredited investors is RealtyMogul. Investors can participate in two non-publicly traded real estate investment trusts (REITs) — the RealtyMogul Income REIT for attractive, monthly cash distributions and the RealtyMogul Apartment Growth REIT for capital appreciation. Unfortunately, your initial minimum is a steep $5,000.

While there are standalone deals and 1031 exchanges, these options are reserved for accredited investors. Nonetheless, the two diversified funds are excellent options as you get access to an asset class you typically don’t have access to. Fees are also reasonable, at 1% and 1.25% per year. 

RealtyMogul has one of the best vetting processes in the industry, leading to a lower default risk and a higher chance of better returns. In the last twelve months, the returns of both REITs were above 14%, with annualized distribution rates of 6% (Income) and 4.5% (Growth). 

Besides, RealtyMogul doesn’t have an investment horizon. They hope (and expect) that investors are in the market for the long run and continue investing due to the positive returns and cash flows. But if you need to withdraw your money, the provided buyback program enhances liquidity. Read our full RealtyMogul review to learn more.

Pros:

• Rigorous due diligence process 
• MogulREITs open to non-accredited investors
• Share Buyback Program
• Monthly or quarterly distributions
• Distributions can be reinvested
• Automated investing

Cons:

• High minimum investment
• Accreditation needed for private placements
• Slow deal flow

3. Roofstock: Best For Rental Properties

If you want to be a homeowner, Roofstock could be an intriguing choice. On this platform, investors can buy turnkey single-family rental properties on over 70 markets across the country. The available rental homes are already occupied by tenants. Therefore, you can earn a monthly income right away.

To make it even easier for investors, the platform takes care of evaluating properties, negotiating, and closing deals. All you need to do is look at the available properties, select the one you like best, and make an offer. Submitting an offer is free, and once your offer is accepted, Roofstock charges you $500 or 0.5% of the contract (whichever is higher) as a marketplace fee.

However, you can also buy shares of fully managed rental properties and invest in custom portfolios similar to non-public REITs. And the best part is that the company offers a unique 30-day money-back guarantee. So if you don’t like your purchase, you get your money back. Read our full Roofstock review to learn more.

Pros:

• Tons of rental properties
• Thorough inspection and vetting process
• Low buying and selling fees
• Roofstock connects you with property managers
• 30-Day money-back guarantee
• IRA investing and 1031 exchanges

Cons: 

• High minimum investment
• Buying houses unseen
• Roofstock One is only accessible to accredited investors
• Illiquid investment
• Homeowners need to set aside money for potential repairs

4. CrowdStreet: Best For Self-Directed IRAs

CrowdStreet specializes in commercial real estate investments with various hold periods of two to ten years. However, all of their current offerings are geared towards accredited investors. The reason we included the crowdfunding platform on this list anyway is that it offered REITs to non-accredited investors in the past and they anticipate bringing deals eligible for non-accredited investors in the near future.

They have teamed up with Impact Housing REIT, LLC in the past to create a fund available to non-accredited investors that would distribute money quarterly, have an investment horizon of five years, and require an investment minimum of $1,000. They have also worked with Medalist Properties to create the Medalist Diversified REIT with an investment minimum of $5,000 and available to non-accredited investors. This REIT was created to target multifamily, limited-service hotels, flex-industrial, and anchored retail properties in the southeastern U.S. with a targetted 7% annualized dividends, paid quarterly to investors.

Since its launch in 2014, CrowdStreet has been boasting a solid track record and very attractive targeted return rates. If they create another REIT open to non-accredited investors, you might want to consider investing. Read our full CrowdStreet review to learn more.

Pros:

• Access to institutional-level commercial real estate
• No fees for investors
• More than 500 closed deals with 50+ fully realized
• Impressive track record and high returns
• Thorough pre-screening process of sponsors
• Excellent transparency
• Robust and easy-to-use dashboard
• Self-directed IRA investing
• Extensive quality educational resources and help center

Cons:

• Limited liquidity
• Accredited investors only (currently)

5. Streitwise: Best For Intitutional Real Estate Deals

One of the newer platforms is Streitwise. However, the company isn’t a true crowdfunding platform but an investment firm. The company enables investors to invest in the platform’s private equity REIT, a professionally managed commercial real estate asset portfolio. For the REIT, Streitwise actively searches for properties with large tenants, such as Panera Bread or Allied solutions.

This REIT provides non-accredited investors with regular cash flows, while investments are subject to a one-year lock-up period. After 12 months, share redemptions can be made each quarter. After the initial investment horizon of five years, these redemptions are possible without any penalties.

What sets the platform apart from most crowdfunding platforms is that it directly owns and operates the real estate properties and that you can fund your investments with crypto.

However, investing with Streitwise requires a minimum investment of $5,000 and 2% in annual management fees. However, looking at these numbers, there are better options with lower fees and minimums. Read our full Streitwise review to learn more.

Pros:

• Institutional-quality real estate
• Self-directed IRA accounts 
• Funding via cryptocurrency is possible
• Dividends can be reinvested
• Founders have skin in the game
• Strong return rate
• Transparent fee structure

Cons:

• No individual deals
• $5,000 minimum investment
• Minimal diversification
• Short track record
• High share redemption penalties
• One-year lock-up period

6. Groundfloor: Best For Low Investment Minimums

Looking for crowdfunding platforms with very low investment minimums and zero fees for investors? Then consider investing with Groundfloor. The company connects investors with professional real estate developers who need short-term financing for their projects. These loans are short-term, high-yield investment loans (debt) backed by real estate collateral.

To participate in these loans on a fractional basis, you need as little as $10 and don’t have to worry about fees as the borrowers are the ones being charged. The low minimum allows you to distribute your money across seven different risk levels with corresponding return rates. That way, you can create a personalized portfolio according to your strategy. 

Groundfloor claims that their average annual return rate is 10.5% for their typical loans that have a six to twelve-month term. Read our full Groundfloor review to learn more.

Pros:

• $10 minimum investment
• Zero fees for investors
• High deal flow
• Automatic investing
• IRA-investments
• Investors have full control over their investment choices
• Deals are color-coded and graded according to their relative risk level

Cons:

• Loan defaults are part of the business model
• No bankruptcy protection
• Loan updates only monthly
• No diversification within asset classes

7. DiversyFund: Best For Educational Resources

DiversyFund is another crowdfunding platform that wants to make the investment tools of the rich available to non-accredited investors. Like many other platforms, the company offers a public non-traded REIT which primarily invests in value-add multifamily real estate properties across the country. However, the REIT consists of only three properties which isn’t great for diversification.

To get started, you need $500 and pay an annual 2% management fee. Although the service was free in the past, this 2% is in line with the industry. Plus, the $500 minimum makes it possible for investors with limited resources to invest in real estate.

DiversyFund is quite unique in its overall approach. The company owns, develops, and manages the properties they invest in for you. However, this also has its price because the firm charges the REIT relatively high fees for being the developer/sponsor. Ultimately, these fees affect your annual returns.

Moreover, the REIT isn’t suitable for income investors as you can’t withdraw any cash. Instead, your income will be reinvested automatically. This mechanism means that you have to wait at least five years for the Growth REIT to mature to see your returns and initial capital. Read our full DiversyFund review to learn more.

Pros:

• $500 investment minimum
• Easy-to-use platform
• Access to commercial real estate 
• Educational resources

Cons:

• Highly illiquid investment
• No secondary market
• Automatic reinvestment of dividends
• High developer/sponsor fees on the REIT level
• Short track record
• Little diversification

8. Arrived Homes: Best For Earning Rental Income

With Arrived Homes, you invest in specific single-family homes in the US instead of a diversified fund. In contrast to buying a house on Roofstock, investors buy shares of rental properties and receive quarterly dividend payments (Arrived Homes is still classified as a REIT and taxed accordingly). These dividends translate to annualized returns between 5.21% and 6.42%.

All you need to get started is $100. You must pay an asset management fee of 1% and a one-time sourcing fee. However, Arrived Homes rigorously vets real estate markets, neighborhoods, and properties to buy only those houses that show the most income-producing potential. Plus, they take care of finding tenants and dealing with maintenance needs and repairs for you.

To maximize your return potential, the company advises you to keep your money invested for five to seven years. Although share redemption is offered after six months, there is no guarantee Arrived Homes can or will fill your request. Read our full Arrived Homes review to learn more.

Pros:

• $100 minimum investment
• Quarterly dividend payments
• Easy-to-use platform
• Professional property management
• Protection from personal liability
• Thorough vetting process
• Good educational resources

Cons:

• Limited liquidity
• Share redemption isn’t guaranteed
• Very low deal flow
• Fees reduce rental income

9. Modiv: Best For Monthly Dividends

The platform Modiv, formerly known as Rich Uncles, is another option for non-accredited investors looking to invest in diversified REITs. Modiv offers a public non-listed REIT that acquires, owns, and manages income-generating properties. This includes single-tenant office buildings, shopping centers/retail properties, apartments, and more in the US. The minimum investment is $1,000. 

As all properties in the portfolio create rental income for investors, these returns are distributed monthly. The annualized distribution rate was 4.2%.

One aspect that might intrigue investors is that you only pay fees if you sell your investment in the first 36 months. The minimum hold period is six months, and after that, you can sell your shares. However, penalties for early redemptions apply — 3% from months six to twelve, 2% for the following year, and 1% the year after that. Once you cross the three-year hold period, you can sell without penalties.

Pros:

• Reasonable investment minimum
• No fees for investors
• Thorough due diligence
• Nationwide diversification
• Monthly dividends / rental income
• Share redemption program

Cons:

•  Illiquid investment
• No standalone deals

10. American Homeowner Preservation: Best For Zero Investor Fees

The American Homeowner Preservation platform is entirely different from all the other platforms we have listed so far. The reason is that AHP purchases distressed loans to prevent foreclosures and families from losing their homes. In return, investors help someone in need and earn a financial return.

They currently offer the AHP Title Fund, where investors can help military veterans stay in their homes. The other investment is preREO, where noteholders and community investors come together to improve challenged properties. In both instances, investors can earn a maximum of 7% per year. Everything above goes to AHP.

The minimum investment is $100, dividends are paid out monthly, and the investment horizon is five years. Besides, there are no fees for investors.

Pros:

• Helping people in need
• Low investment minimum
• Solid returns
• Zero fees for investors

Cons:

• Illiquid investment
• No secondary market
• Investment is capped at 7% annually

Accredited vs. Non-Accredited Investors: What’s the Difference?

While this article provides you with the best real estate crowdfunding sites for non-accredited investors, we also want to highlight the difference to an accredited investor.

Accredited Investor

To become an accredited investor and gain access to investments that aren’t registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), you must meet some financial parameters. However, once accredited, you can invest in all types of crowdfunding deals. 

For individual investors, there are two criteria and you have to meet at least one of them:

• Have an annual income of $200,000 ($300,000 together with a spouse) or more in the last two years before this year and expect to make it the current year as well; and
• Have a net worth of at least $1 million, excluding the primary residence’s value.

The reason why the SEC distinguishes between the two investor types is that unregistered investments are much riskier. Therefore, investors need the necessary experience, financial resources, and understanding of the risks involved when participating in these investments. 

Non-Accredited Investor

In contrast, every investor counts as non-accredited until they meet one of the two criteria mentioned above and become accredited. This is nothing bad. It just means that you remain in the lower risk category where you can still enjoy the benefits of real estate investing. 

Since real estate investments are riskier and much more illiquid than stock investments, the SEC has put these rules in place to protect non-accredited investors from losing their savings. As you see from our extensive list, there are various options to choose from. You can become a homeowner, invest in REITs, and even help people in need with your investment status. 

FAQs About the Best Real Estate Crowdfunding Sites

Below are our answers to some of your frequently asked questions about the best real estate crowdfunding sites.

Can Non-Accredited Investors Invest in Real Estate Crowdfunding?

First of all, yes, non-accredited investors can invest in real estate crowdfunding platforms. Although fewer investment types are available, the number of platforms open for unaccredited investors has increased.

There is also a regulation in place we believe you should at least have heard of, called Regulation A+ Crowdfunding. The Reg A+ requires platforms to have the SEC qualify their offerings. As the SEC oversees these offerings, they are open to non-accredited investors. The only drawback is that non-accredited investors can only invest 10% of their annual income. 

How Do I Choose the Best Real Estate Crowdfunding Platform?

This is probably the question new investors ask us the most regarding real estate crowdfunding investments. However, this question is tricky because every investor has a unique situation and strategy. Nonetheless, you can check various parameters:

• Platform fees: Paying fees is OK, but ask yourself how much you want to pay per year. Aim for the lowest fees, as they can significantly impact your returns. Moreover, try to use platforms with a transparent and easy fee structure.

• Investment minimums: The lower the investment minimum, the better. That way, you can easily diversify across assets and not put all your capital in one investment.

• Liquidity: Real estate investments are illiquid by nature. Therefore, only invest your capital if you can lock it up for around five years. Also, aim for platforms that offer buyback programs to have some flexibility in case of an emergency.

• Performance: Obviously, you want to choose platforms with a solid track record and excellent returns. After all, this is the main reason you invest in this asset class. The higher your ROI, the better.

• Investment options: Ultimately, it also comes down to your preferred type of real estate. If you want to own a home, choose the right platform. Do the same if you want a basket of investment options or a platform where you have room for growth.

Are Real Estate Crowdfunding Sites Safe?

Generally speaking, not a single investment is without risk. This also goes for real estate crowdfunding sites. However, investments open to non-accredited investors are typically less risky than private placements. This is because they are overseen by the SEC, which protects unaccredited investors who can’t afford to lose everything. Still, investments that aim for higher returns often carry a more significant risk. 

With the mentioned real estate crowdfunding platforms, investing in entire homes, funds, and REITs is relatively easy. Still, keep in mind that real estate is a relatively illiquid asset class. Also, only ever invest money you are not dependent on.

Final Thoughts

As you can see from our list, there are a lot of options for non-accredited investors out there. All these platforms have their pros and cons, and you need to weigh them up against each other to find the platform(s) that work(s) best for you. Moreover, take the one that aligns best with your strategy and investor personality. 

We recommend starting to invest in one real estate crowdfunding site and getting to know the asset class better before diversifying your capital across multiple platforms. You don’t have to invest on every platform in the beginning.