If you’re searching for the best online platform to invest in apartment properties, you’ve probably noticed that the landscape shifted dramatically in 2025-2026. Multiple platforms paused redemptions, fee structures vary widely, and it’s not always clear which model fits your budget and need for liquidity. Fractional platforms like Ark7 have emerged as a compelling option, letting anyone start with $20. The apartment and multifamily rental market is undergoing one of its most consequential shifts in decades. Multifamily starts have collapsed roughly 73% below the 2022 peak, according to CoStar data, while the cost gap between renting and buying sits at its widest in over 20 years. Only 31% of U.S. households can qualify for a mortgage on a median-priced home, according to the National Association of Realtors 2026 affordability report.
Those dynamics have pushed millions of Americans into long-term renting and created what may be the strongest renter demand environment in a generation. For investors, the opportunity is clear, but the old ways of buying apartment buildings required millions in capital, hands-on management, and years of experience. That is where online real estate platforms come in, offering fractional shares, REIT structures, and direct deals that let anyone invest in apartment properties with as little as $20.
Key Takeaways
- Apartments are the single largest commercial real estate asset class in online investing, and 2026 is a pivotal year: supply is tightening, renter demand is structurally strong, and several major platforms are navigating liquidity challenges that reshaped the competitive landscape in the last 12 months.
- Fundrise remains the largest platform by assets ($2.87B) but paused redemptions in October 2025 amid a fund merger, a reminder that pooled REIT structures carry liquidity risk.
- Ark7 offers a differentiated model: direct fractional ownership of rental properties with no accreditation required, a $20 minimum, zero AUM fees, and a continuous secondary market through PPEX ATS after a 12-month hold.
- Arrived has scaled to $383M AUM with celebrity backing but pays quarterly dividends averaging ~3.9%, and its secondary market operates in monthly windows rather than continuously.
- CrowdStreet and EquityMultiple serve accredited investors with institutional-quality commercial deals but carry higher minimums ($25K+) and significant platform risk, with CrowdStreet facing a $1B class action lawsuit.
New to passive real estate investing?
Explore Ark7 OpportunitiesWhat Are Online Apartment Investing Platforms?
Online real estate investing platforms for apartments are digital marketplaces that pool investor capital to acquire, manage, and generate returns from multifamily residential properties. They replace the traditional model where buying an apartment building required hundreds of thousands in capital, a team of contractors, and decades of experience. With online platforms, anyone can own a piece of rental real estate through shares, REIT units, or direct property stakes.
These platforms generally fall into three categories. REIT-based platforms like Fundrise and RealtyMogul pool investor money into professionally managed funds that own portfolios of apartment properties, offering instant diversification but no property-level control. Fractional ownership platforms let investors choose specific rental properties and buy shares in individual LLCs that own those properties. Direct deal platforms like CrowdStreet and EquityMultiple connect accredited investors with institutional sponsors for individual commercial real estate transactions, typically requiring $25,000 or more per deal. For a closer look at how these differ from traditional approaches, see the deeper dive on real estate investing.
The apartment category is especially significant within online real estate investing. Multi-family property investing was once reserved for deep-pocketed institutions, but online platforms have created a new pathway for individual investors. For more context, see our deep dive on fractional real estate investing.
How We Evaluated the Best Apartment Investing Platforms
Every platform in this list was assessed across six criteria that matter most to apartment investors in 2026:
Minimum investment and accessibility. Can a non-accredited investor with $500 or $20 participate? Some platforms are open to everyone; others restrict access to accredited investors only. We weighted this heavily because the best platform is meaningless if you cannot use it.
Fee structure and long-term cost. AUM fees, sourcing fees, property management fees, early exit penalties, and carried interest all eat into returns. We compared published fee schedules and 5-year cost projections where available.
Liquidity and redemption terms. This became the defining issue of 2025-2026. Fundrise paused redemptions. RealtyMogul suspended buybacks. DiversyFund has no viable exit path. We evaluated each platform’s ability and track record of letting investors get their money out.
Apartment-specific exposure. Some platforms offer broad real estate exposure; others concentrate on multifamily. We assessed what percentage of each platform’s portfolio is in apartments, and how that exposure is structured (direct ownership vs pooled funds).
Track record and stability. Years in operation, capital raised, investor count, regulatory compliance, and SEC filings all factor into platform credibility.
Investor sentiment and complaints. We cross-referenced Trustpilot, BBB, CrowdfundedWealth, and NerdWallet ratings alongside investor complaint data to separate marketing claims from actual user experience. For perspective on how passive real estate investing platforms compare across these dimensions, our dedicated guide covers the full spectrum.
Best Online Real Estate Investing Platforms for Apartments in 2026
Here are the top online real estate investing platforms for apartments in 2026, ranked by accessibility, fee structure, liquidity, and apartment-specific exposure:
- Ark7 – Fractional rental property ownership with a $20 minimum, zero AUM fees, monthly dividends, and a continuous secondary market.
- Fundrise – Largest online real estate platform ($2.87B AUM) with pooled eREITs starting at $10 and heavy multifamily exposure.
- RealtyMogul – Dedicated Apartment Growth REIT with concentrated multifamily focus starting at $5,000.
- Arrived – Fractional rental property shares starting at $100, backed by Jeff Bezos and Marc Benioff, with $383M AUM.
- CrowdStreet – Direct commercial real estate deals for accredited investors with $25,000+ minimums and institutional-quality underwriting.
- EquityMultiple – Institutional-quality commercial real estate with co-investment model, requiring accredited investor status.
- Lofty.ai – Blockchain-based tokenized real estate with a 24/7 secondary market and no annual management fees.
- Groundfloor – Short-term real estate debt investments with a $10 minimum and historical average returns around 10%.
- DiversyFund – Former multifamily REIT now restructured, requiring accredited investors with $100,000+ minimums.
1. Ark7
Ark7 offers fractional ownership of individual rental properties through SEC Reg A+-qualified LLC shares. The platform is open to all investors regardless of accreditation status and requires a minimum of just $20 to buy shares in a specific property. It handles property acquisition, management, and tenant oversight, while investors collect monthly dividends paid on the 3rd of each month and benefit from any appreciation when the property is sold.
The platform has funded over $23 million in property value with 230,000+ active investors. Its portfolio maintains a 94.81% average occupancy rate and a 4.36% average dividend yield, with more than $3.5 million in lifetime dividends distributed to investors. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
What sets Ark7 apart
Several structural features distinguish the platform from the broader market. It charges zero AUM fees; revenue comes from a one-time 3% sourcing fee and an 8-15% property management fee, with no annual management charges on your invested capital. Competitors like Fundrise charge approximately 1% annually, and Arrived charges 0.4-1.2%, which compounds significantly over time.
The platform pays monthly dividends, while most competitors distribute quarterly. The consistency of monthly income appeals to investors who use dividend payments as a regular cash flow supplement.
For liquidity, the platform provides access to the PPEX ATS secondary market after a 12-month holding period. This is a continuous market where investors can list shares and find buyers throughout the month. Arrived uses monthly secondary market windows, which means liquidity is concentrated into specific days each month.
The platform’s SEC Reg A+ qualification means its financial disclosures are publicly available on EDGAR, providing a level of transparency that exceeds what pre-REIT and unregistered offerings provide.
Ideal for
- Non-accredited investors who want direct property-level ownership without pooled fund structures
- Investors seeking monthly dividend income from rental real estate
- Those who value the $20 minimum to test fractional investing before committing larger sums
- Investors who prefer zero AUM fees and transparent cost structures
- Anyone who wants to choose specific rental properties rather than a blind pool
- Investors interested in IRA investing options (Roth and Traditional)
Getting started
Opening an account takes minutes. Browse available properties, select the one that fits your goals, and buy shares starting at $20. The platform handles everything else including property management, tenant relations, maintenance, and distributions. Start investing with $20 →
2. Fundrise
Fundrise is the largest online real estate investing platform by assets under management, with $2.87 billion AUM (SEC filing) and over 385,000 investors. Founded in 2012, it offers pooled eREITs and eFunds. Fundrise is open to non-accredited investors with a $10 minimum.
Key Features
- Pooled fund structure (eREITs and eFunds), investors cannot select individual properties
- Heavy apartment exposure: 20,000+ residential units across multiple fund types
- $10 minimum investment, lowest entry point in the category
- Quarterly dividend distributions
- Flagship fund returned 7.47% in 2024; Fundrise posted a -7.45% overall blended return in 2023
- Longest track record in the space (founded 2012)
Pricing
Fundrise charges approximately 1% annually in combined management and advisory fees (0.85% management + 0.15% advisory). The Innovation Fund charges 1.85% annually. There is a 1% early exit fee for redemptions made within 5 years. The minimum investment is $10. There is no secondary market, redemptions are processed through Fundrise’s quarterly redemption program, which was temporarily paused in October 2025 during a fund merger that was completed in April 2026.
3. RealtyMogul
RealtyMogul operates the Apartment Growth REIT, a dedicated multifamily fund that provides concentrated exposure to apartment properties across the United States. The platform also offers private placements for accredited investors starting at $25,000-$50,000.
Key Features
- Apartment Growth REIT, a dedicated apartment fund with concentrated multifamily exposure
- Both accredited and non-accredited access (REITs open to all investors)
- Income REIT and MogulREIT II offer additional property type diversification
- No upfront selling commissions
Pricing
RealtyMogul charges 1-1.25% annual AUM fees plus up to 3% origination costs on certain investments. There is a redemption fee of up to 3% in the first three years. The REIT minimum is $5,000; private placements require $25,000-$50,000. The Apartment Growth REIT share repurchase program was suspended on April 21, 2026, per SEC Form 1-U filing. Share repurchase across all funds is limited to 5% of shares annually, and investors have reported waiting 2-4 years for redemptions.
4. Arrived
Arrived offers fractional ownership of individual rental properties through LLC shares, a similar model. Founded in 2021 and backed by Jeff Bezos, Marc Benioff, and Dara Khosrowshahi, Arrived has grown to $383 million AUM across 550+ properties in 65+ markets. The platform has over 945,000 registered investors and has paid out $71 million in distributions, with $59 million returned to investors from property sales.
Key Features
- Fractional ownership of individual rental properties, investors can select specific homes
- 173 exited properties with 18.6% average total return
- 93% occupancy rate across the portfolio
- Private Credit Fund offering approximately 8.1% annualized with zero defaults to date
- 1099-DIV tax treatment, QBI eligible, simpler tax filing than K-1 funds
- Secondary market launched November 2025 (monthly window system)
Pricing
Per Arrived’s published terms, the platform charges AUM fees and sourcing fees on its investments. The minimum investment is $100. The secondary market charges exit fees, and investors must hold properties before listing. Arrived operates in monthly windows for its secondary market, with specific trading dates each month. Fee schedules are per Arrived’s published terms and may change over time.
5. CrowdStreet
CrowdStreet connects accredited investors with individual commercial real estate deals sponsored by experienced operators. The platform focuses on institutional-quality underwriting and offers a wide variety of property types including multifamily, office, industrial, and retail. Investors select specific deals and invest directly as limited partners.
Key Features
- Direct investments in individual commercial real estate projects
- Institutional-quality deal underwriting with experienced sponsors
- Wide variety of commercial property types including significant multifamily exposure
- Accredited investors only for most offerings
- No secondary market, investments are illiquid until deal exit (typically 3-10 years)
Pricing
CrowdStreet charges 0% direct platform fees, but sponsor fees typically run 1-3% annually plus 20-30% profit share at exit. The minimum investment is $25,000 per deal. There is no secondary market, so capital is locked until the property is sold or the deal matures. CrowdStreet obtained its FINRA broker-dealer license in 2022 (FINRA).
6. EquityMultiple
EquityMultiple offers institutional-grade commercial real estate investments including equity, preferred equity, and senior debt positions. The platform targets mid-market commercial properties with a strong emphasis on multifamily deals. The team includes experienced portfolio managers from institutional firms like Clarion Partners.
Key Features
- Strong focus on multifamily and mid-market commercial real estate
- Co-invests in every deal (“skin in the game” model)
- Alpine Notes at approximately 7.35% APY with zero fees and short terms (source)
- Completing equity deals have averaged approximately 17% IRR
- Accredited investors only
Pricing
EquityMultiple charges 0.5-1.5% annual monitoring fees plus 10% carried interest on equity deals. Origination fees apply to debt investments. The minimum investment ranges from $5,000 to $20,000 per deal. There is no secondary market, investments are illiquid until deal exit.
7. Lofty.ai
Lofty.ai (formerly Chime Technologies) uses blockchain-based tokenization to offer fractional ownership of rental properties. Each property is tokenized, and investors buy tokens representing a share of the property’s cash flow and appreciation. The platform has a 24/7 secondary market for trading tokens, though liquidity depends on buyer demand.
Key Features
- Blockchain-based tokenized real estate ownership
- 24/7 secondary market trading potential with 0% buyer / 0.5% seller fees
- Both accredited and non-accredited investors welcome
- Includes multifamily, commercial, and vacation rental properties
- No annual platform management fees
- Minimum investment varies by property
Pricing
Lofty.ai charges 0% annual platform management fees. The secondary market carries a 0.5% seller fee and 0% buyer fee. There is a listing fee on initial property offerings. The minimum investment varies by property.
8. Groundfloor
Groundfloor offers short-term real estate debt investments rather than equity ownership. Investors fund loans to real estate developers for fix-and-flip projects and ground-up construction, earning interest when the loans are repaid. The platform also offers Notes products with fixed terms.
Key Features
- Short-term real estate debt investments (6-18 months) vs 5-7 year equity holds
- $10 minimum, among the lowest in the industry
- Zero investor fees on individual loans and Notes
- Historical average returns of approximately 10%
- Notes product has perfect repayment record since 2018, with $8.4 million in interest paid in 2025 alone
- Non-accredited investors welcome
Pricing
Groundfloor charges 0% investor fees on individual loans and Notes products. The minimum is $10 for individual loans and $1,000 for Notes. The Signature Note offers 8.25% APY (12-month term, $1,000 minimum), and the Preferred Note offers 9.25% APY (6-month term, $10,000 minimum, accredited only). There is no secondary market, loans cannot be sold early.
9. DiversyFund
DiversyFund was originally a multifamily REIT targeting non-accredited investors with a $500 minimum. In June 2023, the SEC permanently suspended the platform’s Regulation A+ exemption, effectively ending its original product. The SEC found the REIT failed to commence its offering on time and improperly increased its offering amount without filing the required amendments. The original $500-minimum product no longer exists.
Key Features
- Originally focused exclusively on multifamily apartment properties
- SEC permanently suspended Regulation A+ exemption (June 2023)
- Active federal securities fraud class action, Ferry v. DF Growth REIT (S.D. Cal.)
- New product requires $100,000-$1,000,000 and is accredited-only
- Only one cash distribution ever paid (~$4 million in December 2022, over 7+ years)
- Accumulated deficit of $26.28 million
Pricing
The original product marketed “no investor fees” but charged 6-8% developer fees, a 1% disposition fee, and 2% annual asset management fees (waived since 2019). The minimum was originally $500 but has shifted to $100,000-$1,000,000 for the new accredited-only private placement. Review sources advise against investing with DiversyFund.
How Do You Choose the Right Apartment Platform?
The right platform depends on your budget, liquidity needs, and desired level of involvement. For those just starting out, our guide on how to invest in real estate with limited capital covers the basics.
If you have $20-$100 and want to start today, some platforms offer the lowest barriers to entry. Fractional ownership platforms give you direct property selection and monthly dividends with zero AUM fees; Fundrise offers broader diversification through its pooled eREITs. Both accept non-accredited investors.
If monthly cash flow matters, some platforms pay dividends on the 3rd of each month, while most competitors distribute quarterly. For investors who use real estate dividends to supplement regular income, the difference between monthly and quarterly payments is meaningful.
If liquidity is a priority, the landscape has narrowed considerably. Fundrise paused redemptions for much of the last year. RealtyMogul suspended its buyback program entirely. One platform provides continuous liquidity through PPEX ATS after a 12-month hold, where investors can list shares and find buyers on an ongoing basis rather than waiting for quarterly or monthly windows. Our analysis of out-of-state real estate investing platforms covers similar liquidity considerations for remote investors.
If you are an accredited investor, CrowdStreet ($25,000+) and EquityMultiple ($5,000-$20,000) offer institutional-quality commercial real estate deals with the potential for higher returns and proportionally higher risks. The lack of secondary markets on these platforms means capital is committed for the full deal term, typically 3-10 years.
If you prefer debt over equity, Groundfloor’s short-term real estate loans offer a different risk-return profile with historical average returns around 10% and terms of 6-18 months. The capped upside is the tradeoff for shorter duration.
Apartment Investing in 2026: Market Trends to Know
The multifamily market in 2026 is defined by a supply-demand imbalance that favors long-term owners. Multifamily construction starts have fallen roughly 73% below the 2022 peak, meaning that over the next 2-3 years, new apartment supply will be significantly constrained. During the same period, the U.S. added 2.1 million apartment units since 2021, an 11.2% increase in the national stock, but most of that supply is concentrated in a handful of high-supply markets like Orlando, Austin, Miami, Nashville, and Phoenix.
Rent growth has moderated in 2026, with operators prioritizing occupancy over rate increases. Renewals now account for a record 57% of leasing activity, reflecting a tenant base that is staying in place rather than chasing lower rents elsewhere. Markets in the Midwest and Northeast are outperforming the Sun Belt for rent growth in 2026, a reversal of the post-pandemic trend.
The demographics remain strongly supportive. There are 78 million Americans aged 24-40, the prime renting cohort featured in our first-time buyer guide, and the cost gap between renting and buying has never been wider. A monthly payment gap exceeding $1,100, combined with mortgage qualification rates of just 31%, means that millions of households will remain renters by necessity rather than choice.
For investors considering cap rates, the range is roughly 4.5-5.0% for stabilized multifamily assets and approximately 6.0% for value-add properties. The highest cap rate markets for 2026 include Detroit (11.42%), Jacksonville (8.95%), and Chicago (8.92%), according to LoopNet’s 2026 multifamily study. Markets with the strongest supply-demand balance for long-term stability include Indianapolis, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, and Columbus.
Final Verdict
There is no single best platform for every apartment investor. The right choice depends on your budget, liquidity needs, and whether you want property-level control or pooled diversification.
- For beginners with limited capital wanting instant diversification across hundreds of multifamily properties, Fundrise offers the lowest minimum ($10) and the longest track record.
- For non-accredited investors seeking direct property ownership with a $20 minimum, zero AUM fees, and monthly dividends, Ark7 is a strong option in the category. Its continuous PPEX ATS secondary market after a 12-month hold provides more predictable liquidity than the monthly windows or paused redemption programs at competing platforms.
- For accredited investors with $25,000+ comfortable with longer hold periods, CrowdStreet and EquityMultiple offer institutional-quality direct commercial deals, though both carry significant platform risks including illiquidity and ongoing class action concerns.
If your primary concern is liquidity and transparent fees in a fractional ownership model (as featured on BiggerPockets), Ark7 is worth evaluating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best platform for investing in apartments?
There is no single best platform; it depends on your budget, liquidity needs, and investment goals. Fundrise offers the largest apartment portfolio with a $10 minimum and decades of track record but pays quarterly and faced a recent redemption pause. Fractional platforms offer direct property selection, monthly dividends, zero AUM fees, and a continuous secondary market starting at $20. CrowdStreet serves accredited investors with institutional-quality direct deals starting at $25,000.
Can Non-Accredited Investors Invest in Apartments?
Yes. Several platforms accept non-accredited investors, including those offering fractional shares ($20 minimum), Fundrise ($10 minimum), Arrived ($100 minimum), RealtyMogul REITs ($5,000 minimum), Lofty.ai ($50 minimum), and Groundfloor ($10 minimum). The key difference is whether you are buying into a pooled fund (Fundrise, RealtyMogul) or selecting specific properties.
What is the best platform for investing in apartments?
The answer depends on your budget, liquidity needs, and investment goals. Fundrise offers the largest apartment portfolio with a $10 minimum and decades of track record. Fractional platforms offer direct property selection, monthly dividends, zero AUM fees, and a continuous secondary market starting at $20. CrowdStreet serves accredited investors with institutional-quality direct deals starting at $25,000.
Can Non-Accredited Investors Invest in Apartments?
Yes. Several platforms accept non-accredited investors, including fractional share platforms ($20 minimum), Fundrise ($10 minimum), Arrived ($100 minimum), RealtyMogul REITs ($5,000 minimum), Lofty.ai ($50 minimum), and Groundfloor ($10 minimum). The key difference is whether you are buying into a pooled fund (Fundrise, RealtyMogul) or selecting specific properties.
How do apartment REITs compare to fractional ownership?
Apartment REITs (like Fundrise and RealtyMogul) pool investor capital into professionally managed funds that own many properties, providing instant diversification but no control over which properties you own. Fractional ownership platforms let you choose specific rental properties and buy shares in individual LLCs, giving you property-level transparency and selection. REITs pay quarterly dividends typically; fractional ownership platforms may pay monthly or quarterly.
What fees do apartment investing platforms charge?
Fee structures vary widely. Some platforms charge zero AUM fees with a 3% one-time sourcing fee and 8-15% property management fees. Fundrise charges approximately 1% annually. Arrived charges 0.4-1.2% annually plus a 3.5% sourcing fee and 8-25% property management fees. RealtyMogul charges 1-1.25% annually. CrowdStreet charges 0% platform fee but sponsor fees of 1-3% plus 20-30% carried interest.
How liquid are fractional real estate investments?
Liquidity is the top risk across all fractional platforms. Fundrise paused its quarterly redemption program from October 2025 to April 2026. RealtyMogul suspended its Apartment Growth REIT share repurchase program entirely in April 2026. One platform provides a continuous secondary market (PPEX ATS) after a 12-month holding period. Arrived launched monthly secondary market windows in November 2025. CrowdStreet, EquityMultiple, and Groundfloor have no secondary markets at all.
What Cities Offer the Best Multifamily Returns?
According to the Arbor-Chandan Spring 2026 Multifamily Opportunity Matrix, Indianapolis ranks #1 for multifamily investment, followed by Raleigh, Salt Lake City, Nashville, and Milwaukee. For cash flow, the highest cap rate markets are Detroit (11.42%), Jacksonville (8.95%), and Chicago (8.92%). Markets with the best supply-demand tightness include Worcester, MA (95/100), Grand Rapids, MI (93/100), and St. Louis (91/100).
Are online real estate investing platforms safe?
Platform safety varies by provider. SEC-regulated platforms with public financial disclosures, like those operating under Regulation A+, offer more transparency than unregistered offerings. Key factors include verifying a platform’s regulatory standing through SEC EDGAR, checking independent third-party reviews, noting whether the platform has ever paused redemptions or suspended buybacks, and researching any class action litigation. No platform is risk-free, and past performance does not guarantee future results.
