BuyProperly is a Canada-based alternative-investment platform that includes fractional real estate opportunities alongside private credit, private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, and other private-market products. It has historically offered fractional real estate opportunities and currently describes an AI-driven real estate sourcing model. For investors based in the United States or those seeking broader market access, alternative platforms may better serve their investment goals. Whether you're looking for lower minimum investments, higher projected returns, or specialized property types like short-term rentals, the fractional real estate investing landscape offers several compelling options. This guide examines seven alternatives that serve different investor needs, starting with mogul, a platform founded by Goldman Sachs real estate alumni that delivers institutional-grade deal selection with blockchain-powered transparency.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this guide is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a licensed professional before making any financial or investment decisions.
Key Takeaways
- Institutional pedigree matters for deal quality: Platforms founded by experienced real estate professionals, like mogul's Goldman Sachs alumni team with $10 billion in collective experience, apply rigorous underwriting standards that can translate to stronger returns
- Monthly distributions accelerate compounding: Platforms like mogul and Ark7 offer monthly rental income distributions, enabling faster reinvestment compared to quarterly payers like Fundrise and RealtyMogul
- Fee structures vary significantly: One-time fees (like mogul's 3% onboarding + 2% setup) differ from ongoing AUM fees (like Fundrise's ~0.85% annual management fee), creating different long-term cost profiles depending on hold period
- Minimum investments range from $10 to $50,000: Entry points vary dramatically. Fundrise starts at $10 for taxable accounts, RealtyMogul REITs require $5,000, and RealtyMogul private placements generally require $25,000 to $50,000, with Yieldstreet (now Willow Wealth) minimums varying by offering, making accessibility a key differentiator
- Blockchain technology adds transparency: mogul's Avalanche-powered platform records property ownership on-chain, providing independently verifiable proof of ownership uncommon in traditional platforms
- Risk mitigation features vary by platform: mogul offers up to $10,000 in loss protection for new members, a unique feature not commonly found among competitors
1. mogul
mogul delivers a fractional real estate platform built by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors who collectively deployed over $10 billion in institutional capital. The platform combines institutional-grade deal selection with blockchain-powered transparency. mogul lists 15-20% annual return targets on showcased property cards and states it focuses on properties with a 12% minimum projected IRR hurdle. mogul has $40M+ in assets on the platform, focusing on high-yield short-term and mid-term rental strategies.
How Does mogul Work?
mogul acquires income-producing single-family rental properties, places each into a state-registered LLC, and fractionalizes ownership into shares available to investors. The platform handles all property management, tenant coordination, and operational responsibilities. Key highlights:
- Investment Structure: Direct fractional ownership via LLC structures with proportional governance rights
- Average Investment: ~$10,000 per member
- Distribution Frequency: Monthly rental income distributions from actual rental payments
- Property Types: Short-term rentals (Airbnb-style), mid-term rentals, long-term rentals, and sale-leaseback arrangements
- Technology: Avalanche blockchain integration for independently verifiable ownership records
Fee Structure
mogul charges a one-time 3% onboarding fee plus 2% setup fee, with no ongoing AUM fees. mogul's platform fees are front-loaded through the 3% onboarding fee and, where applicable, the 2% setup fee capitalized into the deal; the site does not describe an annual AUM fee, unlike platforms charging annual management fees that compound over time.
Risk Mitigation
mogul covers up to $10,000 in losses for new members during their first year of investments, a unique protection feature that distinguishes it from competitors. Additionally, mogul personally invests in every property offered on the platform, aligning management interests with investor returns.
Performance Data
- Average Annual Returns: 18.8% IRR as of April 2025
- Target Returns: 15-20% annual return on showcased property cards, with a 12% minimum projected IRR hurdle
- Property Selection: Less than 1% of properties reviewed pass mogul's diligence process
Best For: Investors seeking institutional-grade deal selection, monthly income distributions, blockchain transparency, and access to high-yield short-term rental investments without ongoing AUM fees.
2. Ark7
Ark7 offers fractional real estate investing with one of the lowest entry points for individual-property selection in the market. The platform provides individual property selection with monthly distributions and a secondary market for share liquidity.
Key Features
- Minimum Investment: $20 per property, among the lowest for individual-property fractional ownership
- Distribution Frequency: Monthly rental income payments
- Secondary Market: Available after a 1-year holding period
- Property Types: Single-family rentals and multi-family properties
- Acquisition Fee: A 3% acquisition/sourcing fee (a $300 upfront fee corresponds to a $10,000 investment, not every investment)
Performance Metrics
- Yield Range: 3.96% to 7.65% depending on property
- Investor Base: Ark7 states it has 220,000+ investors
- Property Value: Ark7 states $23M+ in property value funded
Fee Structure
Ark7 charges a 3% acquisition/sourcing fee, no annual AUM fee, and 8-15% of rental income for property management. A $300 upfront fee would correspond to a $10,000 investment, not every investment, and the management fee is deducted from ongoing rental income.
Best For: First-time investors seeking a very low entry point for individual-property fractional ownership and those prioritizing secondary market liquidity after the initial holding period. Fundrise has the lower absolute minimum at $10 but uses a fund-based model.
3. Arrived Homes
Arrived Homes has built significant scale in the fractional real estate space, backed by notable investors including Jeff Bezos. The platform focuses on single-family rentals and vacation properties across U.S. markets.
Key Features
- Minimum Investment: $100 per property
- Distribution Frequency: Monthly rental income
- Property Types: Single-family rentals and vacation homes
- Geographic Focus: U.S. residential markets
Platform Scale
- Assets Under Management: About $337M per recent Arrived public page data; Arrived reported $300M+ invested in November 2025
- Investor Base: About 942,000 registered investors per recent Arrived public data; Arrived reported 850,000+ investors in November 2025
- Founded: Around 2019 to 2020 (public launch and first SEC offering activity around 2020)
Fee Structure
Arrived's AUM fee varies by product and is currently disclosed as 0.1% to 0.30% per quarter, equivalent to roughly 0.4% to 1.2% annually; for single-family residential properties, Arrived states 0.15% per quarter. Sourcing fees and other asset-level costs are disclosed in offering details rather than as a universal range.
Performance Data
- Estimated Historical Returns: 6% to 10% annually for Single-Family Residential strategies, with 3% to 5% annual income; the Real Estate Income Fund reports 8.1% annual income. Actual individual-property results vary.
Best For: Investors seeking a well-established platform with significant scale and those interested in vacation rental properties alongside traditional single-family homes.
4. Fundrise
Fundrise operates as one of the longest-running alternative investment platforms, having launched in 2012. Unlike property-specific platforms, Fundrise primarily offers diversified fund-based investments rather than individual property selection.
Key Features
- Minimum Investment: $10 for taxable accounts, the lowest in the industry
- Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
- Investment Structure: Fund-based portfolios rather than individual properties
- Liquidity: Quarterly redemption windows
Platform Scale
- User Base: 400,000+ investors
- Track Record: Operating since 2012
- Investment Approach: Automated fund allocation across diversified real estate holdings
Fee Structure
Fundrise charges a 0.15% annual advisory fee and its real estate funds charge a 0.85% annual management fee; other products may have different fund-level expenses. While appearing lower than one-time fee structures, these ongoing costs compound over multi-year holding periods.
Performance Data
According to Fundrise's client-returns page, advisory-client account returns were 6.24% in 2025, 5.75% in 2024, -7.45% in 2023, 1.50% in 2022, 22.99% in 2021, 7.31% in 2020, 9.16% in 2019, and 8.81% in 2018.
Best For: Hands-off investors seeking maximum diversification through automated fund allocation, those prioritizing the longest track record, and investors comfortable with quarterly rather than monthly distributions.
5. RealtyMogul
RealtyMogul has operated since 2012, offering both REIT products and private placement investments. As of its current public pages, its Income REIT and Apartment Growth REIT are paused for new investors while offering circulars are refreshed. The platform caters to a range of investor types with varying minimum requirements and accreditation status.
Key Features
- Minimum Investment: $5,000 for REITs; private placements generally require $25,000 to $50,000
- Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
- Investment Types: REITs and individual commercial real estate deals
- Accreditation: Some offerings require accredited investor status
Fee Structure
RealtyMogul fees vary by product. Its REITs generally disclose 1% to 1.25% management-type fees plus additional offering, disposition, servicing, or sponsor-level fees depending on the product and offering documents. The Income REIT specifies a 1% annualized asset management fee and organization/offering expenses of up to 3%. These ongoing costs accumulate over the typical investment horizons of 3 to 7 years for individual property investments; REIT liquidity differs because repurchase programs are limited and may be suspended.
Performance Data
RealtyMogul does not publish a platform-wide historical average return. Its Income REIT currently highlights a 3.00% annualized distribution rate, and private placement returns vary by sponsor and offering; returns are not guaranteed. NerdWallet notes private placement returns generally range from 0% to 10% average annualized, depending on plan and investment type.
- Track Record: Operating since 2012
Investment Focus
RealtyMogul emphasizes commercial real estate opportunities including office buildings, retail centers, and apartment complexes. This differs from residential-focused platforms like mogul that concentrate on single-family rental properties.
Best For: Accredited investors seeking commercial real estate exposure and those comfortable with higher minimum investments and quarterly distribution schedules.
6. Yieldstreet (now Willow Wealth)
Yieldstreet, now Willow Wealth, positions itself as a multi-asset alternative investment platform, offering exposure beyond real estate into asset classes like art, marine finance, and private credit. Yieldstreet announced in October 2025 that it was becoming Willow Wealth.
Key Features
- Minimum Investment: Varies by offering (many offerings cite $10,000+ minimums)
- Investment Types: Real estate, art, marine finance, private credit, and other alternatives
- Founded: 2015
- Investor Base: Broad platform serving various alternative investment strategies
Platform Scope
Unlike real estate-focused platforms, Yieldstreet/Willow Wealth provides portfolio diversification across multiple alternative asset classes. This approach appeals to investors seeking exposure beyond traditional real estate holdings.
Fee Structure
Fees vary by offering type and asset class, with structures differing between real estate investments and other alternative categories.
Status Context
Following its transition to Willow Wealth, the platform continues to offer access across multiple alternative asset classes beyond real estate.
Best For: Investors seeking diversification across multiple alternative asset classes beyond real estate, and those building broader alternative investment portfolios.
7. Lofty.ai
Lofty.ai offers blockchain-based fractional real estate investing with tokenized property ownership. The platform emphasizes daily rental income distributions and secondary market trading.
Key Features
- Technology: Blockchain-powered tokenization for property ownership
- Distribution Frequency: Daily rental income payments
- Secondary Market: Active trading marketplace for property tokens
- Property Types: Residential properties across U.S. markets
Blockchain Integration
Like mogul, Lofty.ai utilizes blockchain technology for property tokenization. However, the platforms differ in their underlying blockchain infrastructure and overall investment approach.
Investment Structure
Lofty.ai tokenizes properties, allowing investors to buy and sell fractional shares on secondary markets with relative ease compared to traditional real estate transaction timelines.
Best For: Investors prioritizing daily distributions and active secondary market trading, and those seeking blockchain-based property tokenization.
Why mogul Stands Out for Fractional Real Estate Investing
Institutional-Grade Deal Selection
mogul's founding team brings over $10 billion in real estate investing experience from Goldman Sachs, applying institutional underwriting standards to every property. Less than 1% of properties reviewed pass mogul's diligence process, ensuring only high-quality investments reach the platform. This selectivity, combined with mogul's reported 18.8% average annual return as of April 2025, compares favorably with competitors such as Arrived (estimated 6% to 10% total returns) and Ark7 (3.96% to 7.65% yields).
Transparent Fee Structure Without Ongoing Costs
mogul's one-time 3% onboarding plus 2% setup fee structure eliminates the compounding effect of annual management fees. Over a 5-year hold period, this can result in meaningful savings compared to platforms charging 1%+ annually. Investors benefit from straightforward cost predictability.
Monthly Income Distributions
Unlike Fundrise and RealtyMogul's quarterly distributions, mogul delivers monthly rental income from actual tenant payments. More frequent distributions enable faster reinvestment and compounding, particularly valuable for investors building long-term wealth through real estate.
Blockchain-Powered Transparency
mogul's Avalanche blockchain integration records property ownership on-chain, providing immutable ownership records and independently verifiable proof of ownership. This level of transparency is uncommon among traditional fractional platforms.
Unique Risk Protection
mogul covers up to $10,000 in losses for new members, a protection feature not offered by competitors. Combined with mogul's practice of investing alongside platform users in every property, this alignment of interests provides meaningful risk mitigation for first-time fractional real estate investors.
High-Yield Property Strategies
mogul offers short-term rental investments, mid-term, long-term rental, and sale-leaseback strategies. Its short-term rental content notes that short-term rentals can deliver higher income than traditional rentals when managed well. mogul's homepage lists The Axelrod in Houston with a 13.1% Year 1 yield and $174,000 annual revenue.
For investors evaluating BuyProperly alternatives, mogul's combination of Goldman Sachs expertise, blockchain transparency, monthly distributions, and institutional-grade property selection positions mogul as a compelling choice for U.S.-based investors seeking fractional access to professionally underwritten residential real estate. Explore available properties to see current investment opportunities.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this guide is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a licensed professional before making any financial or investment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main differences between BuyProperly and U.S.-focused platforms like mogul?
BuyProperly is a Canada-based alternative-investment platform serving primarily Canadian investors. Its public materials reference low minimums, including $500 on the homepage and $2,500 on other pages. U.S.-focused platforms like mogul offer access to American real estate markets, with a typical member investment of ~$10,000, monthly distributions, and blockchain-powered transparency. mogul also targets higher returns, listing 15-20% annual return targets on showcased property cards with a 12% minimum projected IRR hurdle, through institutional-grade deal selection.
How do fractional real estate platforms differ from REITs?
REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) pool investor capital into diversified real estate portfolios managed at the fund level. Fractional platforms like mogul provide direct ownership in individual properties via LLC structures, offering proportional governance rights and the ability to select specific properties. This direct ownership model provides more control and transparency compared to REIT structures where investors own shares in a fund rather than specific properties.
What kind of returns can investors expect from fractional real estate?
Returns vary significantly by platform and property type. mogul targets 15-20% annual return on showcased property cards with a 12% minimum projected IRR hurdle, and reports an 18.8% average as of April 2025. Arrived currently describes estimated historical total returns of 6% to 10% annually for Single-Family Residential strategies, while Ark7 shows 3.96% to 7.65% yields. Fundrise's advisory-client account returns have varied by year, for example 6.24% in 2025 and 5.75% in 2024. These figures represent historical or projected performance and are not guarantees of future results.
Is fractional real estate investing suitable for beginners?
Yes, fractional platforms have made real estate accessible to first-time investors by dramatically lowering minimum investments and eliminating property management responsibilities. Platforms range from Fundrise's $10 minimum for taxable accounts to RealtyMogul REITs at $5,000 and RealtyMogul private placements generally at $25,000 to $50,000. mogul's combination of up to $10,000 in loss protection for new members and free investment calculators makes it particularly suitable for those new to real estate investing.
How do platforms like mogul protect investor interests?
mogul implements several protective measures: the platform covers up to $10,000 in losses for new members during their first year, mogul personally invests in every property offered (aligning interests with investors), and blockchain technology provides immutable ownership records. Additionally, mogul states that each property is structured through an LLC / investment club associated with the individual property.