Investing in real estate is a great way to diversify your portfolio, generate income, and take ♚advantage of unique tax benefits. You can use a real estate crowdfunding platform to invest in a variety of commercial, residential, and industrial real estate projects at a fraction of the cost.

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Investopedia's Best Real Estate Crowdfunding Platforms

Investopedia’s experts put 19 comp💛anies through a rigorous evaluation process to identify the best real estate crowdfunding platforms for you and your real estate investing needs. We collected 851 data points and used our subject matter expertise to develop a process for finding the best real estate crowdfunding platforms, focusing on fees, transparency, investment selection, and more.

Winners

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do I invest in real estate?

    While you can invest in real estate by purchasing a rental or commercial property, not everyone has the cash required to invest to do so. Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are publicly traded investment vehicles that offer real estate exposure without having to put forth a down payment or be a landlord. You can also invest in real estate via online real estate crowdfunding investment platforms and real estate investment groups (REIGs), and there are avenues to rent properties you already 𝓀own, such as with Airbnb.

  • Does real estate or the stock marke☂t perform better?

    Historically, stocks have generally outperformed real estate in terms of average returns. However, the performance can vary based on factors like location and timing. From March 1992 to March 2022, the average growth rate of the U.S. housing market was 5.4%. The S&P 500 witnessed annualized returns of 9.65% from the beginning of 1992 to the same period in 2022.

  • What is a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)?

    A real estate investment trust (REIT) is a company that owns, operates, or finances income-gene🌌rating real estate. REITs allow you to invest in most real estate property types, including apartment buildings, cell towers, data centers, hotels, medical facilities, offices, retail centers, and warehouses, which are generally not feasible fꦿor individual investors to purchase directly. You can invest in REITs—as well as REIT mutual funds and REIT ETFs—by purchasing shares through a broker.

  • Is flipping houses an easy way to make money?

    While flipping houses can in fact be a lucrative endeavor, it requires a lot of research, up-front capital, time, and patience. Flipping houses also requires hard labor skills to im💛prove the home’s value. If you aren’t adept at handiwork, you will need to pay a professional to do the renovations and repairs, further reducing the profit potential of your investment.

Key Terms

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Real Estate
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Commercial Real Estate
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Organization
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Price-to-Rent Ratio
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Capitalization Rate
Capitalization Rate: Cap Rate ꦿDওefined With Formula and Examples
Hard Money Loan: A type of loan that is secured by real property.
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Page Sources
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