Wall St Walls

Real estate investing isn’t just for millionaires anymore.
Thanks to evolving investment structures, even non-accredited investors now have access to diversified real estate income without ever touching drywall or dealing with tenants. But not all real estate tools are created equal.

Today, we break down the two most popular entry points for hands-off investors:

• REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts)
• Real Estate Crowdfunding Platforms

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🧱 What is a REIT?

A Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) is a company that owns or finances income-producing real estate across a range of property sectors. Think apartment buildings, hospitals, data centers, malls, and even cell towers.

REITs are traded on major stock exchanges or sold privately. When you invest, you’re buying shares in a company—not in individual buildings.

✅ Good for: Passive investors who want exposure to real estate with stock-like liquidity.

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🏗️ What is Real Estate Crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding platforms like CrowdStreet, Arrived, and RealtyMogul let you invest directly into individual real estate projects alongside other investors. Instead of buying shares of a company, you’re buying a slice of a specific deal—like a 120‑unit apartment rehab in Phoenix or a mixed-use development in Nashville.

✅ Good for: Investors who want more control and are willing to wait several years for potential outsized returns.

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📊 Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	REITs	Real Estate Crowdfunding
What You Own	Shares in a real estate company	Fractional ownership in specific deals
Liquidity	High (public REITs); Low (private)	Low (3–10 year hold periods)
Minimum Investment	$1–$500 (public REITs), $500+ (private)	$500–$10,000+ depending on platform
Control Over Investment	None	Medium – you choose the deals
Return Structure	Dividends + stock appreciation	Rental income + profit on sale (if any)
Accreditation Required?	No (public REITs); Some private ones do	Often yes, but some platforms are open to all
Volatility	Follows the stock market	Tied to project and market performance
Fees	Low (often built into share price)	Moderate–high (platform + sponsor fees)
Examples	Fundrise, VNQ, RealtyMogul eREITs	Arrived, Groundfloor, Landa, RealtyMogul

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💸 Real-World Examples

Here are a few platforms worth checking out:

🔹 Fundrise

• Private REIT model (eREITs)
• Open to non-accredited investors
• Minimum investment: $10–$500
• Liquidity: Quarterly redemption options (limited)
• Diversified across residential, commercial, and industrial

🔹 Arrived Homes

• Buy fractional shares of rental properties through crowdfunding
• No accreditation required
• Minimum investment: $100
• Liquidity: 5–7 year hold expected (limited early exit windows)

🔹 Groundfloor

• Short-term real estate debt crowdfunding (e.g., house flippers)
• No accreditation required
• Minimum investment: $10
• Liquidity: Loans mature in 6–12 months

🔹 RealtyMogul

• Offers both REITs and private crowdfunding real estate deals
• Mixed access for accredited and non-accredited investors
• Minimums: $5,000+
• Liquidity varies by deal

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🧠 Which One Is Right for You?

👉 REITs might be your best friend, if you want:

• High liquidity
• Low minimums
• Real estate exposure with zero headache

👉 Crowdfunding platforms could give you the edge, if you’re okay with:

• Tying up capital for several years
• Doing a bit more due diligence
• Potentially higher upside returns

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📣 The WallStWalls.com Take

Wall St Walls was built for people just like you: smart, skeptical, resourceful. If you’ve ever discovered that the “best investments” are only available to wealthy insiders… you’re in the right place.

Our mission is to break down the walls—especially when it comes to real estate tools that are finally opening to the public.

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🧱 Want to Go Deeper?

We’re working on full reviews of each of these platforms—including hidden fees, investor experiences, and risk factors—so be sure to subscribe or bookmark this page.

Need help deciding where to start?
👉 Message us or drop a comment on the blog.