Real Estate Platform Comparison· Updated May 5, 2026

Arrived vs. Roots 2026 Real Estate Investing Comparison

A side-by-side breakdown of returns, liquidity, fees, and trustworthiness to help you decide where to invest your money.

2.5

Arrived offers an easy on-ramp into single-family rentals with a $100 minimum, but Q1 2026 dividend yields of just 3.6% lag high-yield savings, and a 5–7 year lock-up with sponsor-controlled exits limits investor flexibility.

★ Our Pick Roots logo

3.5

Roots offers an unusual win-win structure where renters earn shares of the REIT alongside investors, with $100 minimums, quarterly distributions, quarterly liquidity, and a 12.02% trailing twelve-month return as of April 2026 — but investors hold REIT shares rather than direct property ownership.

At a Glance

Arrived vs. Roots — Key Stats

$100Minimum$100

5–7 years (long-term rentals); up to 15 years (vacation rentals)Holding Period1 year minimum to avoid early-redemption penalty

Quarterly sellback program — undisclosed fees, approval not guaranteedEarly WithdrawalPenalty applies in first 12 months; no penalty after year one

QuarterlyRent PayoutQuarterly distributions

Q1 2026: ~3.6% dividend yield; ~18.6% total return on 173 exited properties (over hold period, not annualized)Avg. Returns12.02% trailing 12 months (4/10/25 – 4/10/26); 17.17% average annual since inception 7/1/2021

Pros & Cons

What each platform does well and poorly

Polished, beginner-friendly UX
Arrived's product is one of the most polished in the space. Onboarding is fast, property pages are visual, and the app makes it easy for first-time real estate investors to allocate capital.
Single-family and vacation rentals
Arrived focuses on Class A single-family homes and short-term vacation rentals — asset classes most retail investors can't access directly without buying a full property.
Strong track record at scale
Backed by Jeff Bezos and Marc Benioff, Arrived has fractionalized hundreds of properties and exited 173+ of them, giving the platform real performance data to share.
$100 minimum
Investors can buy shares starting at $100 per property, making it easy to spread capital across multiple homes.
Dividend yields below savings accounts
Q1 2026 single-family dividend yields averaged ~3.6%, with short-term rentals around 2.4%. That trails high-yield savings (typically 4–5% APY in early 2026) for an investment that is illiquid for 5–7 years.
5–7 year lock-up with sponsor-controlled exits
Arrived decides when to sell each property. Investors can submit a quarterly sellback request, but approval is not guaranteed and fees are disclosed only at the time of the transaction.
Quarterly payouts
Dividends are paid quarterly, materially less frequently than monthly or daily-payout platforms. That hurts long-run compounding.
Layered fees that compress investor returns
Arrived charges a sourcing fee (~3.5–5% of property cost), an annual AUM fee, plus property management fees on rental income. On a typical home those fees can compound to tens of thousands of dollars over the hold period.

$100 minimum, open to non-accredited investors
Roots is open to both non-accredited and accredited investors with a $100 starting minimum, making it one of the more accessible REIT-style platforms for first-time real estate investors.
Quarterly liquidity
Roots offers investors the ability to redeem shares every quarter — meaningfully more flexible than the multi-year lock-ups common at Arrived, CrowdStreet, and Cadre. After the first 12-month holding period there's no early-redemption penalty.
Strong reported track record
Roots reports a 12.02% trailing twelve-month return (4/10/25 – 4/10/26) and a 17.17% average annual return since inception in July 2021. Returns are not guaranteed, but the published track record is competitive with peer REIT funds.
Renters build wealth alongside investors
The 'Live in it Like You Own It' program gives Roots renters quarterly equity grants for behaviors that improve property value (paying rent on time, keeping properties in good condition). Roots reports more than $1.7M saved and invested by renters under the program.
Low transaction fees
Only a $5 transaction fee to get started and no penalty to cash out after the first year — light fees compared with Fundrise's 1% AUM or Arrived's variable sponsor markups.
REIT shares, not direct property ownership
You own units of the Roots REIT, not fractional ownership of a specific property. That's simpler and more diversified than per-property models, but it means investors don't pick individual properties or vote on property-level decisions.
Geographically concentrated
Roots is heavily concentrated in the Atlanta metro and a small number of additional Sun Belt markets. That focus is part of the brand but means less geographic diversification than national platforms.
Quarterly (not daily) distributions
Distributions are paid quarterly rather than daily or monthly. Investors waiting on real estate income for cash flow may find quarterly cadence inconvenient.
Less property-level transparency than per-property platforms
Because Roots is a fund, individual property underwriting and rent rolls are aggregated rather than fully exposed to investors.

Deep Dive

Detailed comparison

What You're Investing In

Fractional shares of long-term single-family rentals, short-term vacation rentals, the Single Family Residential Fund, and the Private Credit Fund. Most investors hold a basket of individual properties.

A single REIT — the Roots REIT — focused on residential real estate in Atlanta and select other Sun Belt markets.

Property Locations

Arrived's portfolio is heavily concentrated in the southern and mid-western U.S. — Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, the Carolinas, and Florida — plus tourism markets like Tennessee and Arizona for vacation rentals.

Primarily Atlanta metro, with select expansion into adjacent Sun Belt markets.

Expected Returns

Q1 2026 dividend yields averaged about 3.6% on long-term rentals and 2.4% on short-term rentals, with the Private Credit Fund yielding closer to 8.1%. Across 173 exited properties, total returns averaged 18.6% over the hold period (not annualized). The advertised total return range across the platform is 4.7%–12.8% per year combining income and appreciation.

Roots targets 12–15% annual returns and reports 12.02% trailing twelve months (4/10/25 – 4/10/26) and 17.17% average annual return since inception (7/1/2021). Past performance does not guarantee future results — read the offering circular before investing.

Fees

Arrived charges a sourcing fee (~3.5–5% of home cost), an annual AUM fee (~0.15% of property value), and property management fees of roughly 8% of gross rents collected (passed to a third-party manager). Vacation rentals carry additional gross-revenue fees.

Roots charges a $5 transaction fee to get started and no early-redemption penalty after the first year. There is no investor-facing AUM fee disclosed; the REIT covers operating expenses internally before distributing returns.

Liquidity

Long-term rentals are designed for a 5–7 year hold; vacation rentals for up to 15 years. Arrived decides when to sell each property based on its own assessment of market conditions.

12-month minimum holding period to avoid an early-redemption penalty. After year one there is no exit penalty.

Who Can Invest

Open to U.S. citizens and residents 18 or older. No accreditation required. Investors receive 1099 documents annually and can also invest through self-directed IRAs.

Open to both non-accredited and accredited U.S. investors aged 18 or older. International availability is limited.

The Verdict

Which is better — Arrived or Roots?

2.5

Arrived is one of the most polished products in fractional real estate and a reasonable choice for investors who want hands-off single-family or vacation-rental exposure. But the gap between Arrived's marketed returns and what investors actually pocket is wide: Q1 2026 dividend yields lag savings accounts, fees compress upside, and exits are sponsor-controlled. Investors who prioritize cash flow, liquidity, or control will find better terms elsewhere.

Full Arrived review →

★ Our Pick

3.5

Roots is one of the most differentiated REIT options in 2026. The win-win renter-equity model is genuinely unique, the $100 minimum is accessible, quarterly liquidity is meaningfully better than most private real estate platforms, and the published 12% trailing return is competitive. The trade-offs are REIT (not direct property) ownership, a heavy Atlanta concentration, and quarterly (not daily) distributions. A solid hands-off pick for investors aligned with its mission.

Full Roots review →

Bottom Line

Roots scores higher (3.5/5) and edges out Arrived on our investment quality criteria.

Frequently Asked Questions

Arrived vs. Roots FAQ

Which is better — Arrived or Roots?

Based on our scoring criteria — returns, fees, liquidity, transparency, minimums, and track record — Roots (3.5/5) scores higher than Arrived (2.5/5). Roots offers an unusual win-win structure where renters earn shares of the REIT alongside investors, with $100 minimums, quarterly distributions, quarterly liquidity, and a 12.02% trailing twelve-month return as of April 2026 — but investors hold REIT shares rather than direct property ownership.

What is the minimum investment for Arrived vs. Roots?

Arrived's minimum investment is $100. Roots's minimum investment is $100.

How do Arrived and Roots compare on liquidity?

Arrived: Long-term rentals are designed for a 5–7 year hold; vacation rentals for up to 15 years. Arrived decides when to sell each property based on its own assessment of market conditions. Roots: 12-month minimum holding period to avoid an early-redemption penalty. After year one there is no exit penalty.

What returns can investors expect from Arrived vs. Roots?

Arrived reports average yearly returns of Q1 2026: ~3.6% dividend yield; ~18.6% total return on 173 exited properties (over hold period, not annualized). Roots reports average yearly returns of 12.02% trailing 12 months (4/10/25 – 4/10/26); 17.17% average annual since inception 7/1/2021. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

One of the most flexible ways to invest in real estate

Start building generational wealth with Lofty

$50 minimums · Daily rent payouts · No lock-up periods · 24/7 exchange

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Real Estate Platform Comparison· Updated May 5, 2026

Arrived vs. Roots 2026 Real Estate Investing Comparison

A side-by-side breakdown of returns, liquidity, fees, and trustworthiness to help you decide where to invest your money.

2.5

★ Our Pick Roots logo

3.5

At a Glance

Arrived vs. Roots — Key Stats

$100Minimum$100

5–7 years (long-term rentals); up to 15 years (vacation rentals)Holding Period1 year minimum to avoid early-redemption penalty

Quarterly sellback program — undisclosed fees, approval not guaranteedEarly WithdrawalPenalty applies in first 12 months; no penalty after year one

QuarterlyRent PayoutQuarterly distributions

Pros & Cons

What each platform does well and poorly

Polished, beginner-friendly UX
Arrived's product is one of the most polished in the space. Onboarding is fast, property pages are visual, and the app makes it easy for first-time real estate investors to allocate capital.
Single-family and vacation rentals
Arrived focuses on Class A single-family homes and short-term vacation rentals — asset classes most retail investors can't access directly without buying a full property.
Strong track record at scale
Backed by Jeff Bezos and Marc Benioff, Arrived has fractionalized hundreds of properties and exited 173+ of them, giving the platform real performance data to share.
$100 minimum
Investors can buy shares starting at $100 per property, making it easy to spread capital across multiple homes.
Dividend yields below savings accounts
Q1 2026 single-family dividend yields averaged ~3.6%, with short-term rentals around 2.4%. That trails high-yield savings (typically 4–5% APY in early 2026) for an investment that is illiquid for 5–7 years.
5–7 year lock-up with sponsor-controlled exits
Arrived decides when to sell each property. Investors can submit a quarterly sellback request, but approval is not guaranteed and fees are disclosed only at the time of the transaction.
Quarterly payouts
Dividends are paid quarterly, materially less frequently than monthly or daily-payout platforms. That hurts long-run compounding.
Layered fees that compress investor returns
Arrived charges a sourcing fee (~3.5–5% of property cost), an annual AUM fee, plus property management fees on rental income. On a typical home those fees can compound to tens of thousands of dollars over the hold period.

$100 minimum, open to non-accredited investors
Roots is open to both non-accredited and accredited investors with a $100 starting minimum, making it one of the more accessible REIT-style platforms for first-time real estate investors.
Quarterly liquidity
Roots offers investors the ability to redeem shares every quarter — meaningfully more flexible than the multi-year lock-ups common at Arrived, CrowdStreet, and Cadre. After the first 12-month holding period there's no early-redemption penalty.
Strong reported track record
Roots reports a 12.02% trailing twelve-month return (4/10/25 – 4/10/26) and a 17.17% average annual return since inception in July 2021. Returns are not guaranteed, but the published track record is competitive with peer REIT funds.
Renters build wealth alongside investors
The 'Live in it Like You Own It' program gives Roots renters quarterly equity grants for behaviors that improve property value (paying rent on time, keeping properties in good condition). Roots reports more than $1.7M saved and invested by renters under the program.
Low transaction fees
Only a $5 transaction fee to get started and no penalty to cash out after the first year — light fees compared with Fundrise's 1% AUM or Arrived's variable sponsor markups.
REIT shares, not direct property ownership
You own units of the Roots REIT, not fractional ownership of a specific property. That's simpler and more diversified than per-property models, but it means investors don't pick individual properties or vote on property-level decisions.
Geographically concentrated
Roots is heavily concentrated in the Atlanta metro and a small number of additional Sun Belt markets. That focus is part of the brand but means less geographic diversification than national platforms.
Quarterly (not daily) distributions
Distributions are paid quarterly rather than daily or monthly. Investors waiting on real estate income for cash flow may find quarterly cadence inconvenient.
Less property-level transparency than per-property platforms
Because Roots is a fund, individual property underwriting and rent rolls are aggregated rather than fully exposed to investors.

Deep Dive

Detailed comparison

What You're Investing In

A single REIT — the Roots REIT — focused on residential real estate in Atlanta and select other Sun Belt markets.

Property Locations

Primarily Atlanta metro, with select expansion into adjacent Sun Belt markets.

Expected Returns

Fees

Liquidity

Long-term rentals are designed for a 5–7 year hold; vacation rentals for up to 15 years. Arrived decides when to sell each property based on its own assessment of market conditions.

12-month minimum holding period to avoid an early-redemption penalty. After year one there is no exit penalty.

Who Can Invest

Open to U.S. citizens and residents 18 or older. No accreditation required. Investors receive 1099 documents annually and can also invest through self-directed IRAs.

Open to both non-accredited and accredited U.S. investors aged 18 or older. International availability is limited.

The Verdict

Which is better — Arrived or Roots?

2.5

Full Arrived review →

★ Our Pick

3.5

Full Roots review →

Bottom Line

Roots scores higher (3.5/5) and edges out Arrived on our investment quality criteria.

Frequently Asked Questions

Arrived vs. Roots FAQ

Which is better — Arrived or Roots?

What is the minimum investment for Arrived vs. Roots?

Arrived's minimum investment is $100. Roots's minimum investment is $100.

How do Arrived and Roots compare on liquidity?

What returns can investors expect from Arrived vs. Roots?

One of the most flexible ways to invest in real estate

Start building generational wealth with Lofty

$50 minimums · Daily rent payouts · No lock-up periods · 24/7 exchange

View Properties Get started free