Here are the 10 best real estate investment apps.
For generations, real estate has been a cornerstone of wealth creation, but direct ownership has traditionally required significant capital, time, and expertise. Today, a new wave of innovative apps has shattered those barriers, allowing everyday investors to access the real estate market with just a few taps on a smartphone.
These platforms offer a modern, digital-first approach to real estate investing, enabling you to build a diversified portfolio of properties across the country without the hassles of being a landlord. At ShockTrail, we are dedicated to exploring the tools that democratize access to powerful financial opportunities. This guide highlights the best real estate investment apps for 2025.
Why Real Estate Apps are Changing the Investment Game
Real estate investment apps solve two of the biggest problems for individual investors: high entry costs and a lack of diversification. Instead of needing hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy a single property, you can start with as little as $10.
These platforms pool money from thousands of investors (a model known as crowdfunding) to purchase large-scale commercial and residential properties. This gives you fractional ownership in a diversified portfolio of assets that were once only accessible to the ultra-wealthy. They handle all the property management, from finding tenants to collecting rent, making it a truly passive investment experience.
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Real-World Scenarios: Building Your Digital Real Estate Portfolio
Scenario 1: The Beginner Seeking Diversification
- The Investor: Sarah, a 30-year-old who is new to real estate and wants a simple, hands-off way to get started.
- The Goal: To invest a small amount of money into a diversified portfolio of real estate without having to pick individual properties.
- The Solution: Sarah opens an account with Fundrise. She is drawn to their low minimum investment and their flagship eREIT (electronic Real Estate Investment Trust) products. She starts with a $500 investment into their “Balanced Investing” plan. Fundrise automatically diversifies her money across dozens of properties, including apartment buildings and industrial properties in growing cities across the Sun Belt.
Scenario 2: The Investor Wanting to Own a Piece of a Vacation Home
- The Investor: The Chen family, who love vacationing in the Smoky Mountains and want to own a piece of a rental property there.
- The Goal: To invest in a specific, high-end vacation rental property for both potential appreciation and rental income.
- The Solution: The Chens use Arrived (formerly Arrived Homes). The platform allows them to browse individual single-family homes that have been vetted as potential rental properties. They find a beautiful cabin in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and decide to purchase 10 shares, representing a small ownership stake. They now receive quarterly dividends from the rental income and can track the property’s value through the Arrived app.
Scenario 3: The Accredited Investor Seeking High-Yield Deals
- The Investor: David, an experienced, accredited investor looking for higher-yield opportunities in commercial real estate.
- The Goal: To invest in specific, institutional-quality real estate deals like office buildings or large apartment complexes.
- The Solution: David joins CrowdStreet. As an accredited investor, he gains access to their marketplace of curated real estate deals, which often have target returns of 15% or higher. He reviews the detailed documentation and webinars for a new multifamily development project in a growing city. He decides to invest $25,000 directly into the project, adding a high-growth, private equity real estate component to his portfolio. For more information on accredited investing, you can visit the **U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)** website.
Comparative Breakdown of Top Real Estate Investment Apps
| Platform | Best For | Investor Type | Key Investment Product |
| Fundrise | Beginners & Diversification | Non-Accredited & Accredited | eREITs & eFunds |
| Arrived | Fractional Single-Family Homes | Non-Accredited & Accredited | Shares of individual properties |
| CrowdStreet | Accredited Investors & Commercial Deals | Accredited Only | Direct investment in commercial properties |
| Yieldstreet | Alternative Investments | Accredited (primarily) | Real Estate Debt, Art, Legal Finance |
| Public | Investing in REITs & Real Estate Stocks | Non-Accredited & Accredited | Publicly Traded REITs & Stocks |
The 10 Best Real Estate Investment Apps for 2025
- Fundrise: The best platform for beginners. It makes it incredibly easy to start investing in a diversified portfolio of private real estate with a very low minimum investment.
- Arrived: The leading platform for fractional ownership of single-family rental homes and vacation rentals. It’s a great way to invest in specific properties you find attractive.
- CrowdStreet: The top marketplace for accredited investors to access institutional-quality commercial real estate deals, from apartment buildings to office complexes.
- Yieldstreet: A platform focused on a wide range of alternative investments, with a strong offering in real estate debt and equity deals for accredited investors.
- Public: While a broad stock investing app, Public is excellent for easily investing in publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), which is another great way to get real estate exposure.
- RealtyMogul: One of the original real estate crowdfunding platforms, RealtyMogul offers both private REITs for all investors and direct property investments for accredited investors.
- Groundfloor: A unique platform that allows you to invest in short-term, high-yield real estate debt. You are essentially acting as the lender for fix-and-flip projects, with investments starting at just $10.
- EquityMultiple: A platform for accredited investors that offers a range of debt, equity, and preferred equity investments in commercial real estate, with a focus on institutional-quality assets.
- HappyNest: A simple app that lets you invest in a portfolio of commercial real estate leased to major brands with as little as $10, making it highly accessible for beginners.
- Cadre: An exclusive platform for accredited and institutional investors, Cadre offers a highly curated selection of commercial real estate deals with a focus on high-growth markets.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is investing in real estate through an app safe?
Legitimate platforms are registered with the SEC and are subject to securities laws. The underlying investment—real estate—is a real asset. However, like all investments, it is not without risk. The value of properties can go down, and these investments are illiquid.
What does “illiquid” mean?
Unlike public stocks, you cannot sell your real estate shares instantly. You should be prepared to have your money invested for a period of 3 to 10 years, depending on the platform and the specific investment. This is a long-term investment.
How do I make money with these apps?
There are two primary ways: 1) Dividends/Distributions, which are your share of the rental income collected, typically paid out quarterly, and 2) Appreciation, which is your share of the profit when the property is eventually sold.
What is a REIT?
A Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) is a company that owns, and in most cases operates, income-producing real estate. Publicly traded REITs are bought and sold on stock exchanges, while the private eREITs offered by platforms like Fundrise are not.
What is the difference between an accredited and non-accredited investor?
An accredited investor meets specific income or net worth requirements set by the SEC. A non-accredited investor is everyone else. Thanks to regulations like Regulation A+ and Regulation Crowdfunding, platforms like Fundrise and Arrived can offer their investments to all investors. Respected financial news outlets like **The Wall Street Journal** often cover these regulations.
What are the fees?
Fees vary by platform. Most charge an annual asset management fee, typically ranging from 0.15% to 2.5% of your invested capital. This will be clearly disclosed before you invest.
What is the minimum investment?
It can be as low as $10 on platforms like Fundrise and HappyNest, or $100 on Arrived. Platforms for accredited investors, like CrowdStreet, typically have minimums of $25,000 or more. At ShockTrail, we love that this range makes real estate accessible to almost everyone.
Our Responsibility Safeguards
The information provided in this article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Investing in private real estate involves significant risks, including illiquidity and the potential for loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Before making any investment decisions, you should conduct your own research, perform due diligence, and consult with a qualified financial advisor and/or attorney to assess your personal financial situation, risk tolerance, and investment goals.
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