RealT helped popularize blockchain-based real estate tokenization, allowing investors to purchase fractional ownership in rental properties through digital tokens. However, the platform currently excludes U.S. investors and requires investors to interact with Ethereum or Gnosis Chain wallets for token and rent flows, though purchases may be made by debit/credit card or cryptocurrency. For American investors seeking similar fractional real estate investing opportunities, several platforms now offer compelling alternatives with varying approaches to tokenization, fee structures, and returns. This guide examines seven alternatives that serve different investor needs as of May 2026, starting with mogul, a platform that combines institutional-grade property selection with blockchain transparency and unique investor protections.
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
- RealT is unavailable to U.S. investors: The platform explicitly excludes American residents, creating demand for domestic alternatives that offer similar fractional ownership benefits
- Blockchain integration varies significantly: Some platforms like mogul offer blockchain transparency while abstracting the investor experience through a traditional web interface, while others offer more direct blockchain integration
- Fee structures impact long-term returns: Annual AUM fees of 1% can cost $700-$1,000+ over 10 years on a $10,000 investment; platforms with zero AUM fees preserve more capital
- Direct LLC ownership may enable tax advantages: Platforms offering direct property ownership through LLCs may allow depreciation-related deductions and other tax items to pass through to investors, though the usable benefit depends on each investor's basis, passive-activity rules, at-risk limits, and personal tax situation, unlike REIT structures, where distributions may include ordinary income, capital gains, or return of capital with different tax treatment
- Loss protection is rare: Among all alternatives, only mogul offers up to $10,000 in loss protection for new members' first-year investments
- Monthly distributions support cash flow: Platforms paying monthly dividends provide more frequent income compared to quarterly distribution models
1. mogul
mogul is a fractional real estate platform club founded by former Goldman Sachs executives, combining institutional-grade property vetting with blockchain transparency. The platform manages $40M+ in assets across properties serving 13,000+ investors, with a focus on short-term rental and mid-term rental properties that generate monthly income.
How Does mogul Work?
mogul enables investors to purchase fractional ownership in individual income-producing properties through a streamlined investment process. Key highlights:
- Property Selection: Less than 1% of reviewed properties pass mogul's institutional-grade screening process
- Direct Ownership: mogul creates an LLC entity for each property, and investors purchase ownership in the investment club LLC associated with the individual property
- Monthly Income: Investors receive monthly rental income distributions proportional to their ownership stake
- Tax Benefits: The LLC structure may allow depreciation-related deductions and other tax items to pass through, depending on the offering terms and the investor's tax situation
- Blockchain Transparency: Avalanche blockchain integration provides immutable, independently verifiable ownership records; mogul uses blockchain infrastructure for ownership records while abstracting the investor experience through its platform
Documented Performance
mogul reports 18.8% average annual returns (IRR) across platform properties, with target annual returns of 15-20% listed for new offerings as projections rather than guaranteed outcomes. This significantly outperforms the 4-9% returns typical of competing platforms.
Unique Risk Protection
mogul offers up to $10,000 in loss protection for new members, a feature no other fractional real estate platform provides. If investments made within the first 7 days show a loss after one year, mogul covers up to $10,000 using balance sheet capital.
Fee Structure
- Setup Fee: 3% onboarding/platform fee plus a 2% setup fee if required to make the property rent-ready, capitalized into the deal
- Annual AUM Fee: 0%
- Property Management Fee: An ongoing 2.5% fee on collected rental income covers property management services
Best For: Investors seeking institutional-quality property selection, monthly income with potential tax advantages through LLC ownership, and blockchain transparency through a traditional web interface, plus unique downside protection for first-year investments.
2. Ark7
Ark7 provides fractional real estate investing with one of the lowest entry barriers in the industry, attracting 230,000+ investors since its 2018 founding.
Key Features
- Low Minimum: $20-100 per share enables broad portfolio diversification
- Secondary Market: PPEX ATS trading available after 12-month holding period
- Occupancy: Ark7 reported 93.59% occupancy as of April 2026
- Monthly Distributions: Regular income payments to investors
- Mobile App: 4.7/5 rating on the App Store
Performance & Fees
Ark7 reports 4.30%-4.74% dividend yields as of early 2026. The platform charges a 3% sourcing fee upfront and 8-15% of gross rental income for property management.
Best For: Investors prioritizing the lowest possible entry point and those wanting established secondary market liquidity after a 12-month hold.
3. Fundrise
Fundrise describes itself as America's largest direct-to-consumer private markets manager, trusted by more than 2 million people since 2010 through a fund-based investment model.
Key Features
- Lowest Minimum: $10 to start investing
- Diversified Funds: Exposure to hundreds of properties per fund across multiple asset classes
- Multiple Strategies: Options include growth, income, and balanced portfolios
- Quarterly Distributions: Regular income payments to investors
- Redemption Program: Fundrise offers liquidity through fund-specific redemption or repurchase programs, generally on a quarterly basis for certain funds, subject to program terms
Performance & Fees
Fundrise's annual advisory-client returns from 2018-2025 averaged approximately 6.79%, with results varying by year and fund type. Fundrise notes these figures reflect advisory-client performance, not necessarily individual investor or fund-level returns. The platform generally charges a 0.15% annual advisory fee plus a 0.85% annual real estate fund management fee (approximately 1.0% combined); the Innovation Fund charges a 1.85% management fee.
Best For: Beginners seeking maximum diversification with minimal capital and those preferring professional fund management over individual property selection.
4. Arrived Homes
Arrived Homes offers fractional ownership in single-family rentals and vacation properties, with options for both individual properties and diversified funds.
Key Features
- Low Minimum: $100 per investment
- Property Selection: Choose individual homes or invest in the SFR Fund
- Occupancy: Arrived reported 95.2% stabilized occupancy for individual SFR properties in Q1 2026; its SFR Fund averaged 96.43% stabilized occupancy during 2025
- Liquidity Options: The Arrived SFR Fund offers quarterly redemption windows after six months, subject to fund terms; Arrived's secondary market moved to monthly trading windows for eligible offerings in Q1 2026
- Total Distributions: $77M+ paid to investors
Performance & Fees
In Q1 2026, Arrived reported a 3.6% average annualized dividend rate for individual SFR properties and a 4.2% average annualized dividend yield for the SFR Fund. Fees include 3.5%-5% sourcing fees and 5-15% promotes on property sales.
Best For: Investors wanting flexibility between individual property picks and fund-based diversification, with multiple liquidity options including monthly secondary market trading and quarterly SFR Fund redemptions.
5. Lofty.ai
Lofty.ai provides blockchain-based real estate tokenization on the Algorand network, offering a no-lock-up secondary marketplace among fractional platforms.
Key Features
- No-Lock-Up Listing: Investors can list tokens for sale without a holding period
- Daily Distributions: Most frequent income payments in the industry
- Blockchain Native: Full Algorand integration with on-chain ownership
- Low Minimum: $50 entry point
- 150+ Properties: Tokenized across the platform
Performance & Fees
Lofty publishes property-specific projected returns that vary by listing. The platform charges a 3% marketplace fee on buy orders and a 3% marketplace fee on sell orders for traded properties.
Best For: Investors seeking blockchain-native ownership who prioritize no-lock-up listing and daily income distributions.
6. RealtyMogul
RealtyMogul was founded in 2012 and serves 300,000+ members with $1.2B+ invested through the platform; it was acquired by The Wideman Company in November 2025. The platform offers both REIT products and individual deal access.
Key Features
- Dual Structure: REITs for non-accredited investors, individual deals for accredited investors; product availability varies by offering
- Commercial Focus: Access to institutional-quality commercial real estate
- Established Track Record: Over a decade of operations
- Monthly/Quarterly Distributions: Regular income payments
Minimums & Fees
RealtyMogul's REITs have historically had a $5,000 minimum; individual property minimums vary by offering and should be verified on the specific deal page. Fees vary by product and offering; consult the applicable REIT offering circular or individual deal documents for specific fee information.
Best For: Accredited investors seeking commercial real estate exposure and those looking for access to institutional-quality commercial real estate.
7. Realbricks
Realbricks differentiates itself through a debt-free property model, purchasing all properties without mortgages to eliminate property-level mortgage and refinancing risk.
Key Features
- Debt-Free Properties: All properties are fully paid off at acquisition, eliminating property-level mortgage and refinancing risk
- No Property-Level Debt: Properties are acquired without leverage, providing a straightforward ownership structure
- Low Minimum: $100 to invest
- Direct LLC Ownership: Investors own membership interests in property-specific LLCs
- Secondary Market: Realbricks has indicated plans for secondary market trading; check the platform for current availability
Performance
Realbricks has self-reported 8-9% annualized payouts; current offering estimates vary by property.
Best For: Conservative investors prioritizing stability over leverage-enhanced returns and those seeking to minimize property-level debt exposure.
Why mogul Stands Out for RealT Alternative Seekers
Blockchain Benefits Without Crypto Complexity
mogul provides Avalanche blockchain integration for immutable, independently verifiable ownership records and transparent transactions, delivering these benefits through a familiar web interface so investors can engage simply and directly, receiving monthly rental income distributions.
Superior Return Performance
mogul's 18.8% average annual IRR has historically led the fractional real estate space, where many alternative platforms report returns in the 4-9% range. This performance stems from institutional-grade property selection; less than 1% of reviewed properties pass screening, combined with focus on high-yielding short-term and mid-term rental strategies.
Unique Downside Protection
No other platform offers loss protection for new investors. mogul's $10,000 coverage for first-year investments made within 7 days demonstrates confidence in property selection while reducing risk for those getting started.
Tax-Efficient Direct Ownership
mogul provides property-level fractional ownership through LLC structures rather than pooled fund exposure. Each property is associated with its own LLC entity, which may allow depreciation-related deductions and other tax items to pass through depending on the offering terms and the investor's tax situation. mogul provides an illustrative example in which depreciation can improve after-tax yield relative to REIT distributions, but actual tax treatment depends on the investor's circumstances, tax bracket, and applicable limitations; consult a tax advisor for guidance specific to your situation.
Long-Term Fee Advantage
mogul's zero annual AUM fee structure preserves more capital over time. With competitors charging 1-2% annually, a $10,000 investment costs $700-$1,000+ more over 10 years on those platforms. mogul's transparent fee model (a 3% onboarding fee and any applicable setup fee disclosed upfront) aligns platform interests with long-term investor outcomes.
Explore available investment properties or use the free rental property calculator to analyze potential returns on any U.S. address.
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
Why did RealT block U.S. investors?
RealT currently excludes U.S. investors from its platform. This likely relates to U.S. securities regulations governing tokenized real estate offerings. American investors seeking similar fractional ownership opportunities must use domestic platforms like mogul that are structured for U.S. compliance.
How does blockchain improve real estate investing without complex crypto infrastructure?
Platforms like mogul use blockchain technology as infrastructure for ownership records and transaction transparency. Avalanche integration provides immutable, independently verifiable proof of ownership and transparent on-chain transactions, while mogul's platform abstracts the blockchain layer so investors interact through a traditional web interface and receive monthly income distributions.
What returns can I expect from fractional real estate investing?
Returns vary significantly by platform and strategy. mogul reports 18.8% average annual IRR, while other platforms range from 3.6% to 9% depending on their approach. These figures represent historical or self-reported performance and are not guarantees of future results.
Are there hidden fees in fractional real estate platforms?
Fee structures vary considerably. Some platforms charge annual AUM fees of approximately 1.0% or more that compound over time, while mogul charges 0% annual AUM fees with a transparent onboarding fee model. Understanding total cost of ownership over your intended holding period is essential when comparing platforms.
How liquid are fractional real estate investments compared to RealT?
Liquidity varies by platform. Lofty.ai offers token-based secondary market listing without a minimum holding period. Ark7 provides PPEX ATS trading after a 12-month holding period. mogul is designed for investors with a longer-term perspective, with properties typically held for 3-10 years to maximize appreciation and income potential, and multiple exit avenues available including platform sales, private sales, and refinancing options.