8 Cadre Alternatives

When evaluating Cadre alternatives for real estate investment, the choice ultimately comes down to whether you need institutional-grade commercial real estate access or accessible residential rental income for everyday investors. While Cadre serves accredited investors with minimum investments of $25,000 to $100,000, many investors seek platforms offering lower barriers to entry, monthly income distributions, and individual property selection without wealth requirements. This comprehensive guide examines the top Cadre alternatives, with particular emphasis on why Ark7 emerges as the superior choice for accessible, transparent, and hassle-free fractional real estate investing.

Key Takeaways

• Ark7 leads as the top Cadre alternative – Offers individual property selection starting at $20 for all investors, monthly distributions, and zero annual AUM fees
• Cadre focuses on institutional commercial real estate – Requires accreditation and $25,000+ minimum investments for commercial properties
• Accessibility defines Ark7 – Open to all U.S. investors 18+ via SEC Reg A+ qualification, unlike Cadre’s accreditation requirements
• Monthly income advantage – Ark7 provides 12 distributions per year versus quarterly payments from most competitors
• Zero ongoing fees – Ark7 charges no annual AUM fees, unlike Fundrise’s 1% or Cadre’s asset management and administration fees

Understanding Cadre: An institutional commercial real estate platform

Cadre positions itself as an institutional-grade real estate investment platform that provides accredited investors access to commercial properties including multifamily, office, hotels, and industrial assets. With 40+ deals across 24 markets and a focus on data-driven deal sourcing, Cadre serves high-net-worth individuals seeking commercial real estate exposure.

Key Cadre Strengths:

• Institutional-quality commercial deals – Access to large-scale properties ($50M-$200M value) typically reserved for institutions
• Strong historical returns – Reports an average historical annual return of 18%
• Advanced data analytics – Proprietary technology analyzing 40,000+ variables and 3M data points for deal sourcing
• Quarterly secondary market – Provides some liquidity through quarterly liquidity events

Platform Considerations:

• Extremely high minimums – $25,000-$100,000 per deal excludes most retail investors
• Accredited investor requirement only – Net worth $1M+ or income $200K+ required
• Long hold periods – 5-8 year typical investment horizon
• Limited transparency – Has declined to answer questions for independent review sites

With pricing requiring significant capital and accreditation verification, Cadre offers institutional commercial real estate access but excludes 99%+ of retail investors who lack the required wealth qualifications.

Top 8 Cadre Alternatives Ranked

1. Ark7: The best overall alternative for accessible residential real estate

Ark7 revolutionizes real estate investing by offering fractional ownership of residential rental properties with minimum investments as low as $20 per share. Through SEC Reg A+ qualified offerings, Ark7 provides all U.S. investors 18+ access to individual property selection, monthly cash distributions, and professional property management without landlord responsibilities.

Key Ark7 Advantages:

• Lowest entry barrier with property selection – $20 minimum investment per individual property share, 1,250x lower than Cadre’s $25,000 minimum
• Open to all investors – No accreditation requirements via SEC Reg A+ qualification
• Monthly distributions – Cash payments on the 3rd of every month from rental income, 3x more frequent than quarterly competitors
• Zero annual AUM fees – Charges a one-time sourcing fee of ~3% and ongoing property management fees of 8-15% of rental income
• Individual property selection – Research and select specific rental properties unlike fund-only platforms
• Secondary market liquidity – PPEX Alternative Trading System allows share trading after 1-year minimum hold
• 230,000+ active investors with $23M+ in property value funded and $3.5M+ in cash dividends paid

Accessible Investment Model:

Unlike Cadre’s institutional approach, Ark7’s platform enables everyday investors to build diversified real estate portfolios property-by-property through the Ark7 Mobile App. Investors can choose from single-family homes, vacation rentals, and multifamily units across 10+ states, with complete operational transparency and 24/7 access to financial and legal documents. The platform’s IRA integration through Inspira Financial Company allows tax-advantaged investing with the same $20 minimum.

Proven Accessibility:

Ark7’s effectiveness is validated by its growing investor base and property portfolio:

• 230,000+ active investors, demonstrating broad market acceptance
• $23M+ in property value funded, showing significant capital deployment
• 4.7/5 iOS app rating and 4.2/5 Android rating, indicating strong user experience
• $3.5M+ in cash dividends paid, proving consistent income generation

Geographic Diversification:

Ark7’s property portfolio spans multiple high-growth markets including Sunbelt regions. Investors can diversify across properties like the Atlanta-T3 townhome in Jonesboro, GA, or the Dallas-S9 single-family home in Mesquite, TX, each offering exposure to markets with strong population growth, job creation, and rental demand.

2. Fundrise: The diversified eREIT alternative

Fundrise serves as a comprehensive real estate investment platform combining diversified eREITs and eFunds with the lowest absolute minimum investment in the industry. With $1B+ annual deployment and a professional management approach, Fundrise offers hands-off real estate exposure for investors seeking broad diversification.

Key Fundrise Advantages:

• Lowest absolute minimum – $10 entry point for taxable accounts ($1,000 for IRA)
• Professional portfolio management – No property selection burden; automatically diversified across multiple asset types
• Large scale and track record – Founded in 2012 with $1B+ annual deployment
• IRA eligibility – Tax-advantaged investing available with $1,000 minimum

Platform Considerations:

• Fund-only model – No individual property selection; investors choose from pre-constructed portfolios
• Quarterly distributions – Less frequent cash flow than Ark7’s monthly payments
• 1% annual fees – Ongoing AUM fees (0.15% advisory + 0.85% fund) reduce net returns
• Limited redemption program – Liquidity options not guaranteed and subject to quarterly windows

Fundrise represents a solid choice for investors prioritizing maximum diversification with minimal research requirements, but it doesn’t offer the property-level control and monthly income of Ark7.

3. Arrived: The single-family rental specialist

Arrived focuses specifically on single-family rental properties and vacation homes, offering individual property selection for non-accredited investors. With detailed property analytics and a growing portfolio of 100+ properties, Arrived serves investors seeking residential rental exposure with comprehensive research tools.

Key Arrived Advantages:

• Detailed property analytics – Comprehensive market research, projections, and due diligence for each listing
• Single-family rental focus – Specializes in SFR and vacation rental properties like Ark7
• Non-accredited investor access – Open to all U.S. investors without wealth requirements
• Growing property portfolio – 100+ individual properties available for selection

Platform Considerations:

• Secondary market available – After a six-month holding period, though liquidity is not guaranteed
• Higher minimum investment – $100 per property versus Ark7’s $20 minimum
• Higher total fees – 3.5-6% sourcing fee + 8% property management fee + 0.4-1.2% annual AUM fee
• Quarterly distributions – Less frequent cash flow than Ark7’s monthly payments

Arrived excels for investors prioritizing detailed property research and single-family rental exposure, but Ark7 offers better liquidity, lower minimums, and more frequent income distributions.

4. RealtyMogul: The commercial and residential hybrid

RealtyMogul serves as a comprehensive real estate investment platform offering both commercial REITs and individual deals for accredited and non-accredited investors. With a diverse property portfolio and institutional-grade opportunities, RealtyMogul provides access to various real estate asset classes.

Key RealtyMogul Advantages:

• Diverse investment options – Choose between REITs (for all investors) and individual deals (accredited)
• Commercial real estate exposure – Access to office, multifamily, industrial, and retail properties
• Institutional-grade deals – Higher return potential through commercial property investments
• IRA eligibility – Tax-advantaged investing available

Platform Considerations:

• Higher minimum investment – $5,000 minimum versus Ark7’s $20
• Varying fee structures – 1-2.5% annual fees depending on deal structure
• Mixed investor eligibility – Individual deals require accreditation; REITs available to all
• Less frequent distributions – Monthly or quarterly depending on specific investments

RealtyMogul represents a middle ground for investors seeking both commercial and residential exposure, but Ark7 offers superior accessibility and residential rental focus.

5. CrowdStreet: The accredited commercial specialist

CrowdStreet specializes in commercial real estate investments exclusively for accredited investors. With a focus on office, multifamily, and industrial properties, CrowdStreet serves high-net-worth individuals seeking institutional-grade commercial real estate exposure.

Key CrowdStreet Advantages:

• Commercial real estate expertise – Specialized focus on commercial property types
• Institutional-grade opportunities – Access to large-scale commercial deals
• Accredited investor focus – Tailored services for high-net-worth individuals
• Professional sponsor network – Curated selection of experienced real estate operators

Platform Considerations:

• Accredited investors only – Excludes non-accredited investors entirely
• Higher minimum investments – Typically $25,000+ per deal
• Illiquid investments – Long hold periods (5-10 years) with limited exit options
• No residential rental focus – Exclusively commercial properties

CrowdStreet excels for accredited investors seeking commercial real estate exposure, but it doesn’t address the needs of everyday investors seeking residential rental income.

6. EquityMultiple: The institutional debt and equity platform

EquityMultiple serves accredited investors with access to institutional-grade real estate investments across equity, preferred equity, and senior debt structures. With a focus on risk-adjusted returns and professional underwriting, EquityMultiple provides sophisticated investment options for qualified investors.

Key EquityMultiple Advantages:

• Investment structure variety – Choose between equity, preferred equity, or senior debt based on risk/return preference
• Institutional-grade underwriting – Professional due diligence and asset management
• Risk-adjusted returns – Up to 18% returns across various investment structures
• Commercial real estate focus – Office, multifamily, industrial, and retail properties

Platform Considerations:

• Accredited investors only – Net worth or income requirements exclude most retail investors
• Higher minimum investments – Typically $5,000+ per investment
• Illiquid investments – 1-5+ year hold periods with limited secondary market options
• Complex investment structures – Requires sophisticated understanding of real estate finance

EquityMultiple represents a sophisticated option for accredited investors seeking various real estate investment structures, but it doesn’t provide the accessibility and simplicity of Ark7.

7. YieldStreet: The alternative investment diversifier

YieldStreet serves as a diversified alternative investment platform offering real estate alongside private credit, art, legal finance, and other alternative assets. With options for both accredited and non-accredited investors, YieldStreet provides portfolio diversification beyond traditional real estate platforms.

Key YieldStreet Advantages:

• Diversified alternatives – Real estate plus private credit, art, legal finance, and other assets
• Mixed investor eligibility – Some deals available to non-accredited investors
• Portfolio diversification – Access to multiple alternative asset classes in one platform
• Institutional-grade opportunities – Curated selection of alternative investments

Platform Considerations:

• Varying minimum investments – Typically higher than Ark7’s $20 minimum
• Complex fee structures – Varying fees across different asset classes
• Less real estate focus – Real estate is just one of many alternative asset options
• Mixed distribution schedules – Varying income frequency across different investments

YieldStreet excels for investors seeking broad alternative asset diversification, but Ark7 provides superior focus on residential real estate with consistent monthly income.

8. Groundfloor: The short-term debt specialist

Groundfloor specializes in short-term, real estate-backed debt investments with terms ranging from 30 days to 24 months. With a focus on fix-and-flip and renovation projects, Groundfloor offers accredited and non-accredited investors access to real estate debt with faster liquidity than equity platforms.

Key Groundfloor Advantages:

• Short-term investments – 30 days to 24 months versus 5-8 year equity holds
• Real estate-backed debt – Secured lending with property collateral
• Faster liquidity – Shorter terms provide quicker capital return
• Mixed investor eligibility – Available to both accredited and non-accredited investors

Platform Considerations:

• Debt-only focus – No equity ownership or property appreciation potential
• Project-specific risk – Dependent on individual renovation project success
• Varying returns – Interest rates vary by project and risk assessment
• No monthly income – Returns paid at loan maturity versus regular distributions

Groundfloor represents a unique option for investors seeking short-term real estate debt exposure, but it doesn’t provide the equity ownership, monthly income, and appreciation potential of Ark7’s residential rental model.

Why Ark7 stands out for accessible residential real estate investing

Ark7’s dominance in accessible real estate investing stems from several unique advantages. The platform’s democratized access model ensures all U.S. investors 18+ can participate in real estate investing regardless of wealth status, unlike Cadre’s accreditation requirements that exclude 99%+ of potential investors.

Accessible investment thresholds represent Ark7’s killer feature, enabling investors to start building real estate portfolios with as little as $20. This 1,250x lower barrier than Cadre’s $25,000 minimum opens real estate investing to teachers, nurses, students, and everyday Americans who previously lacked access to this asset class.

The monthly income advantage of 12 distributions per year versus quarterly payments from competitors provides more frequent cash flow for reinvestment or living expenses. This consistent monthly income stream, combined with potential property appreciation, creates a compelling passive income opportunity for long-term wealth building.

Zero annual AUM fees provide significant cost savings over time. On a $10,000 investment, Ark7 saves $100 annually compared to Fundrise’s 1% fee. Over a 5-year hold period, these savings compound significantly, enhancing net returns.

Individual property selection empowers investors to research and choose specific properties based on location, property type, yield, and growth potential. Unlike Fundrise’s fund-only model, Ark7 provides transparency and control, allowing investors to build geographically and strategically diversified portfolios.

Specific use cases where each platform excels

Choose Ark7 when:

• Seeking accessible real estate investing with $20 minimum investments
• Wanting monthly passive income distributions from rental properties
• Preferring individual property selection without accreditation requirements
• Seeking residential rental exposure in growing Sunbelt markets
• Wanting zero annual AUM fees with professional property management
• Needing secondary market liquidity after 1-year minimum hold
• IRA real estate investing with low minimums

Select other platforms for:

• Institutional commercial real estate access with high minimums (Cadre)
• Maximum diversification with no property selection burden (Fundrise)
• Detailed single-family rental analytics with higher minimums (Arrived)
• Commercial and residential hybrid exposure (RealtyMogul)
• Accredited-only commercial real estate investments (CrowdStreet)
• Institutional debt and equity structures for accredited investors (EquityMultiple)
• Diversified alternative assets beyond real estate (YieldStreet)
• Short-term real estate debt with faster liquidity (Groundfloor)

Making the Right Choice

Selecting the ideal Cadre alternative depends on your specific requirements, investment goals, and financial situation. Ark7 emerges as the clear winner for accessible residential real estate investing, combining low barriers to entry with monthly income, individual property selection, and professional management.

For everyday investors seeking to build wealth through real estate without the constraints of accreditation requirements or high minimum investments, Ark7 provides the optimal balance of accessibility, transparency, and returns. The platform’s proven track record with 230,000+ active investors, comprehensive property portfolio, and mobile-first experience ensure successful real estate investing for investors at any level.

The future of real estate investing is accessible, and Ark7 leads the charge in democratizing fractional ownership for every investor. Start building your real estate portfolio today with Ark7’s $20 minimum and join the growing community of investors who’ve chosen the platform for their real estate wealth-building journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is fractional real estate investing?

Fractional real estate investing allows multiple investors to purchase shares of individual properties, making real estate ownership accessible with lower capital requirements. Ark7 offers fractional ownership of residential rental properties starting at $20 per share, enabling investors to earn passive income through monthly cash distributions without landlord responsibilities. This model democratizes real estate investing by eliminating traditional barriers like high down payments and property management requirements. Investors can build diversified portfolios across multiple properties while enjoying professional management and transparent operations.

How does Ark7 ensure transparency in its real estate investments?

Ark7 provides complete operational transparency with 24/7 access to all financial and legal documents for each property. Investors can review detailed offering circulars, operating agreements, financial statements, and property information through the platform. The company maintains full disclosure of fees, risks, and performance metrics, aligning with its mission of making real estate investment accessible, efficient, and transparent. This commitment to transparency enables informed investment decisions and builds trust with the investor community.

Can I sell my Ark7 property shares if I need to?

Yes, Ark7 provides secondary market liquidity through the PPEX Alternative Trading System (ATS), which allows investors to sell shares after a minimum 1-year holding period. While there’s no guarantee of an active market or specific sale price, this secondary trading option provides more liquidity than platforms that lack secondary markets entirely. Investors should be prepared to hold shares long-term, as secondary market availability depends on buyer demand and regulatory restrictions. This feature offers flexibility while maintaining the platform’s focus on long-term wealth building.

What are the benefits of investing in rental properties through an IRA?

Investing in rental properties through an IRA offers tax-advantaged growth potential for retirement savings. With Ark7’s IRA integration through Inspira Financial Company, investors can use retirement funds to purchase property shares, potentially benefiting from tax-deferred (Traditional IRA) or tax-free (Roth IRA) growth. This strategy allows investors to diversify retirement portfolios beyond traditional stocks and bonds while maintaining the same $20 minimum investment threshold and professional property management. Tax advantages can significantly enhance long-term wealth accumulation within retirement accounts.

How do Ark7’s fees compare to traditional real estate investing?

Ark7 charges a 3% one-time sourcing fee and 8-15% of rental income for property management, with zero annual AUM fees. This contrasts with traditional real estate investing, which typically requires 20% down payments, ongoing property management fees (8-12%), maintenance costs, property taxes, and insurance. Ark7’s model eliminates these burdens while providing professional management, making real estate investing more accessible and hassle-free compared to direct property ownership. The lower barriers and simplified fee structure enable investors to start building wealth through real estate with minimal capital and effort.