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Real Estate Platform Comparison· Updated May 5, 2026

Cadre vs. RealT 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.

★ Our PickCadre logo
2.5

Cadre is a credible accredited-only commercial real estate platform with strong reported historical IRRs and institutional backing, but its $50,000 minimum, the January 2024 acquisition by Yieldstreet (now Willow Wealth), and a 2018 Kushner Cos. property controversy mean retail investors and platform-trust-sensitive investors should weigh it carefully.

RealT logo
2.5

RealT pioneered low-minimum fractional exposure to U.S. rental properties with weekly rent distributions, but the platform is currently closed to U.S. citizens and residents and operates under a Reg S offering for non-U.S. investors only. American investors who want a similar fractional U.S. rental experience can compare Lofty (per-property fractional shares, 24/7 marketplace, daily payouts, $50 minimum), Arrived (single-family rentals, $100 minimum, quarterly distributions), or Roots (Atlanta-focused REIT, $100 minimum, quarterly liquidity).

At a Glance

Cadre vs. RealT — Key Stats

Cadre logo
RealT logo
$50,000 (typical direct deal)Minimum~$50 per token (when accessible); not currently available to U.S. investors
5–8 years typicalHolding PeriodNo fixed lock-up; secondary market available on third-party DEXs (non-U.S.)
Limited liquidity optionsEarly WithdrawalNo platform-imposed penalty; secondary sales depend on third-party market liquidity
Varies by deal (often quarterly)Rent PayoutWeekly (paid in xDai / USDC on Gnosis Chain)
~17.8% historical IRR per Cadre's own platform reportingAvg. ReturnsHistorical net rental yields ~6–10% per property; total returns vary by property and market

Pros & Cons

What each platform does well and poorly

Cadre logo
  • ✓

    Institutional-quality commercial deals

    Cadre curates commercial real estate offerings — multifamily apartments, office, hotels, industrial — that typically only institutional investors can access directly.

  • ✓

    Established platform with track record

    Founded in 2014, Cadre has reported approximately $184 million in cumulative gross distributions to investors and a roughly 17.8% historical IRR across realized deals.

  • ✓

    Cadre Direct Access Fund

    Investors who don't want to pick deals one-by-one can use the Cadre Direct Access Fund, which builds a diversified portfolio across roughly 15 high-growth U.S. markets.

  • ✓

    Backed by a larger alt-investment platform

    Since January 2024, Cadre has operated as part of Yieldstreet (rebranded to Willow Wealth in October 2025), a multi-asset alternatives platform with broader product distribution. Cadre's CEO Ryan Williams continues to lead the brand and Cadre's investment team transitioned with the deal.

  • ✗

    $50,000 minimum

    Cadre's typical direct-deal minimum is $50,000 — among the highest in our comparison set. Spreading capital across multiple deals (the prudent diversification strategy) requires several hundred thousand in available capital.

  • ✗

    Accredited investors only

    Cadre is closed to non-accredited investors. You must verify $200K+ income (or $300K+ jointly), $1M+ net worth excluding primary residence, or hold relevant financial licenses.

  • ✗

    5–8 year hold periods, limited liquidity

    Cadre deals typically run 5–8 years with no formal early-exit option. Sponsors decide when to liquidate. Capital should be considered locked for the full hold.

  • ✗

    Now part of Willow Wealth (formerly Yieldstreet)

    Yieldstreet completed its acquisition of Cadre on January 23, 2024 and rebranded the parent platform to Willow Wealth in October 2025. Investors who want a fully independent commercial real estate platform should factor in that Cadre's parent company has faced significant investor-loss coverage tied to other (non-Cadre) parts of its business.

  • ✗

    2018 Kushner Cos. controversy

    In 2018, Fortune Magazine and Bloomberg reported Cadre benefited from misleading rent filings on a Kushner Cos. property deal. The episode prompted significant scrutiny of the platform's underwriting and disclosure practices.

  • ✗

    Limited public transparency

    Independent reviewers (notably the Real Estate Crowdfunding Review) have flagged Cadre for declining to answer detailed performance and methodology questions. The platform reports its own IRR figures but external scrutiny is limited.

RealT logo
  • ✓

    Long-running international platform

    RealT has been operating since 2019 through RealToken Inc. (Boca Raton, FL) and has fractionalized hundreds of U.S. single-family rental properties under a Reg S offering for non-U.S. investors.

  • ✓

    Weekly rent distributions

    RealT distributes rent payments weekly to investors holding RealTokens, paid out in stablecoins (xDai / USDC) on the Gnosis Chain. Weekly is more frequent than monthly or quarterly schedules used by most competitors.

  • ✓

    Detroit and Midwest single-family focus

    RealT concentrated heavily on Detroit single-family rentals and has expanded into Cleveland, Chicago, Memphis, and other Midwest cash-flow markets — asset classes that historically produce above-average rental yields.

  • ✓

    Per-token minimums roughly $50

    When accessible, RealT's per-token prices are typically around $50, giving non-U.S. investors a low entry point to U.S. rental property exposure.

  • ✗

    Not open to U.S. citizens or residents

    RealT.co explicitly geo-blocks U.S. visitors and states the website is not open to U.S. citizens or residents. The platform operates under Regulation S, which excludes U.S. persons. RealT has said a U.S.-eligible offering is in the works but is not yet available.

  • ✗

    Self-custody and DEX complexity

    RealT investors hold RealTokens in a self-custody wallet on the Gnosis Chain or Ethereum, and secondary trading happens on third-party decentralized exchanges. That adds wallet management, gas fees, and DEX liquidity risk that traditional fractional platforms do not have.

  • ✗

    Property-level performance variance

    Returns vary widely by property — some Detroit properties have produced strong yields, while others have suffered from vacancies, tenant turnover, or capex shocks. Diversification across multiple RealTokens has historically been important.

  • ✗

    Reg S structure limits investor protections vs. Reg A

    Regulation S offerings (used by RealT for non-U.S. investors) carry different investor-protection requirements than Regulation A offerings used by U.S.-eligible competitors. U.S. investors should weigh that difference if RealT's U.S.-eligible offering eventually launches.

Deep Dive

Detailed comparison

Cadre logo
RealT logo

What You're Investing In

Individual commercial real estate deals (multifamily apartments, office, hotels, industrial) and the Cadre Direct Access Fund. Both carry meaningful minimums and accreditation requirements. Cadre branding lives inside the broader Willow Wealth platform.

Individual U.S. single-family rental properties, fractionalized into RealTokens. Each property typically has its own RealToken contract on the Gnosis Chain or Ethereum.

Property Locations

The Cadre Direct Access Fund covers approximately 15 high-growth U.S. markets, with concentration in Sun Belt metros. Direct deals are sourced across the U.S.

Primarily Detroit, with significant exposure to Cleveland, Chicago, Memphis, and other Midwest cash-flow markets.

Expected Returns

Cadre reports a historical IRR of approximately 17.8% across realized deals and roughly $184 million in cumulative gross distributions. Advertised target returns on individual offerings typically range 10–15%. Past performance is platform-reported and not independently audited.

Historical net rental yields on individual RealT properties have generally ranged 6–10% annually depending on the property and market, with total return depending on property appreciation. Returns vary widely property by property — some have performed above target, others have suffered from vacancies and capex. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Fees

Cadre's fee structure varies by offering and includes both platform-level and sponsor-level fees. Read each deal's fee schedule carefully. Fund products typically include both management and carried-interest fees.

RealT property management, maintenance, and operating costs are deducted before rent is distributed to investors. RealT's public FAQ also notes that claiming or trading on third-party networks can involve network or exchange fees. We did not find a current official public page confirming a single universal upfront platform-fee percentage, so investors should read each property's offering documents before buying.

Liquidity

Typical hold periods run 5–8 years. Sponsors decide when to liquidate; investors do not control exit timing.

No fixed lock-up. Secondary trading happens on third-party decentralized exchanges, so liquidity depends on third-party order books rather than a centralized marketplace.

Who Can Invest

Accredited investors only. SEC accreditation requirements apply: $200,000+ annual income (or $300,000+ jointly), $1,000,000+ net worth excluding primary residence, or holding relevant financial licenses.

Currently open only to non-U.S. citizens and non-U.S. residents under the platform's Reg S offering. RealT.co geo-blocks U.S. visitors and explicitly states the website is not open to U.S. citizens or residents.

The Verdict

Which is better — Cadre or RealT?

★ Our Pick
Cadre logo
2.5

Cadre is a credible institutional-quality commercial real estate platform with a strong reported track record and a diversified fund product. The $50,000 minimum and accredited-only access already limit it to high-net-worth investors, and the January 2024 acquisition by Yieldstreet — now Willow Wealth — plus the lingering 2018 Kushner Cos. controversy and limited public transparency add additional considerations. High-net-worth investors who already have institutional CRE exposure may still find selective value here, but most retail investors should look elsewhere.

Full Cadre review →
RealT logo
2.5

RealT is one of the longest-running fractional real estate platforms in the world and a legitimate option for non-U.S. investors who want exposure to U.S. single-family rentals with weekly distributions. But because RealT does not accept U.S. citizens or residents today, U.S. investors looking for a similar fractional U.S. rental experience need to use a U.S.-eligible alternative — most directly Lofty (24/7 marketplace, daily payouts, $50 per-property minimum), with Arrived and Roots also worth comparing depending on whether you prefer per-property ownership or a REIT structure.

Full RealT review →

Bottom Line

Cadre scores higher (2.5/5) and edges out RealT on our investment quality criteria.

Cadre is a credible accredited-only commercial real estate platform with strong reported historical IRRs and institutional backing, but its $50,000 minimum, the January 2024 acquisition by Yieldstreet (now Willow Wealth), and a 2018 Kushner Cos. property controversy mean retail investors and platform-trust-sensitive investors should weigh it carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cadre vs. RealT FAQ

Which is better — Cadre or RealT?+

Based on our scoring criteria — returns, fees, liquidity, transparency, minimums, and track record — Cadre (2.5/5) scores higher than RealT (2.5/5). Cadre is a credible accredited-only commercial real estate platform with strong reported historical IRRs and institutional backing, but its $50,000 minimum, the January 2024 acquisition by Yieldstreet (now Willow Wealth), and a 2018 Kushner Cos. property controversy mean retail investors and platform-trust-sensitive investors should weigh it carefully.

What is the minimum investment for Cadre vs. RealT?+

Cadre's minimum investment is $50,000 (typical direct deal). RealT's minimum investment is ~$50 per token (when accessible); not currently available to U.S. investors.

How do Cadre and RealT compare on liquidity?+

Cadre: Typical hold periods run 5–8 years. Sponsors decide when to liquidate; investors do not control exit timing. RealT: No fixed lock-up. Secondary trading happens on third-party decentralized exchanges, so liquidity depends on third-party order books rather than a centralized marketplace.

What returns can investors expect from Cadre vs. RealT?+

Cadre reports average yearly returns of ~17.8% historical IRR per Cadre's own platform reporting. RealT reports average yearly returns of Historical net rental yields ~6–10% per property; total returns vary by property and market. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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This site is operated by Lofty AI, Inc., which is not a registered broker-dealer or investment advisor. Lofty AI, Inc. does not provide investment advice, endorsement or recommendations with respect to any properties listed on this site. Nothing on this website should be construed as an offer to sell, solicitation of an offer to buy or a recommendation in respect of a security. You are solely responsible for determining whether any investment, investment strategy or related transaction is appropriate for you based on your personal investment objectives, financial circumstances and risk tolerance. You should consult with licensed legal professionals and investment advisors for any legal, tax, insurance or investment advice. Lofty AI, Inc. does not guarantee any investment performance, outcome or return of capital for any investment opportunity posted on this site. By accessing this site and any pages thereof, you agree to be bound by the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

All investments involve risk and may result in partial or total loss. By accessing this site, investors understand and acknowledge 1) that investing in real estate, like investing in other fields, is risky and unpredictable; 2) that the real estate industry has its ups and downs; 3) that the real property you invest in might not result in a positive cash flow or perform as you expected; and 4) that the value of any real property you invest in may decline at any time and the future property value is unpredictable. Before making an investment decision, prospective investors are advised to review all available information and consult with their tax and legal advisors. Lofty AI does not provide investment advice or recommendations regarding any offering posted on this website.

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