Real Estate Platform Comparison· Updated May 5, 2026
A side-by-side breakdown of returns, liquidity, fees, and trustworthiness to help you decide where to invest your money.
CrowdStreet is a credible way for accredited investors to access vetted commercial real estate deals, but $25,000 minimums, sponsor-driven fees, and 3–10 year holds put it out of reach for most retail investors. The 2022 Nightingale fraud case is also a sobering reminder that sponsor risk on crowdfunding platforms is real.
Landa pioneered $5 fractional shares of single-family rentals across Atlanta, Tampa, Orlando and other Sun Belt markets — but as of 2026 the platform has paused new offerings, deposits, and secondary trading. Existing investors do not appear to have an on-platform secondary market until Landa resumes trading, and the company has not published a public restart timeline.
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Institutional-quality commercial deals
CrowdStreet curates commercial real estate deals — multifamily, industrial, hospitality, medical office, data centers — that retail investors typically cannot access directly.
Comprehensive deal documentation
Each offering ships with a detailed business plan, sponsor profile, financial model, and a project launch webinar. Documentation depth is among the best in the space.
Long track record
Founded in 2014, CrowdStreet has facilitated more than 600 commercial real estate deals worth over $4 billion since launch. The platform publishes performance data on realized deals and an investor portal that aggregates across the portfolio.
Vetted sponsors
CrowdStreet approves only a small percentage of sponsor applicants (publicly cited ~2–5%) and runs background, asset, and offering-terms reviews on each listing.
$25,000 minimum
Most offerings require a $25,000 commitment, which prevents proper diversification for all but high-net-worth investors. Spreading capital across 5+ deals (the typical recommendation) requires $125k+.
Accredited investors only
CrowdStreet is closed to non-accredited investors. You must verify $200k+ income ($300k for couples) or $1M+ net worth excluding primary residence.
Long lock-ups, sponsor-controlled exits
Hold periods are typically 3–7 years and CrowdStreet warns investors may be forced to hold for 10+ years. Sponsors decide when to sell. There is no secondary market.
Sponsor risk and the Nightingale case
In 2022–2023, Nightingale Properties offerings on CrowdStreet were the subject of a high-profile fraud case. In February 2025, Nightingale CEO Elie Schwartz pleaded guilty to wire fraud involving roughly $54 million raised from CrowdStreet investors. The episode forced the platform to overhaul its escrow controls and remains a key cautionary tale about sponsor risk on crowdfunding platforms.
Returns reported before fees
CrowdStreet's headline 18.3% historical IRR is calculated before sponsor fees. Sponsor fees can be substantial and vary deal-by-deal, materially reducing what investors actually receive.
Lowest historical entry price
Landa's signature feature was $5 share prices, which made it one of the most accessible fractional real estate platforms ever launched.
Sun Belt single-family focus
Landa concentrated on stable, cash-flowing single-family rental markets — Atlanta, Tampa, Orlando, Charlotte, Birmingham, Jacksonville, Brooklyn — that are popular with rental investors.
Series LLC liability protection
Each Landa property is held in its own series LLC, isolating liability from one property to another for investors.
Polished mobile app
Landa's mobile-first app made browsing properties and tracking distributions easy for first-time real estate investors.
New offerings, deposits, and secondary trading are paused
Landa's website confirms there are currently no active offerings on the platform, and that deposits and secondary trading are temporarily paused. The company says it is working to resume but has not published a public timeline.
Existing investors are effectively illiquid
Because the secondary market is closed, current Landa investors have no on-platform path to exit their positions until trading resumes.
Mixed historical performance and disclosures
Even before the pause, dividend yields on Landa properties varied widely and several properties reduced or suspended distributions due to vacancies or maintenance costs.
No public restart timeline
Landa's website confirms the pause and says the team is working to resume operations, but no public restart date has been published. Investors and prospective investors don't have a clear horizon for when the platform will reopen.
Deep Dive
What You're Investing In
Individual commercial real estate deals (multifamily, industrial, hospitality, office, retail, medical office, data centers, parking) and the C-REIT diversified fund. Most carry a $25,000 minimum.
Historically, fractional shares of single-family rental homes in U.S. Sun Belt markets. New offerings are paused as of 2026.
Property Locations
Deals span the U.S. with concentration in growth-market metros — Texas, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and the Mountain West. Each project's location is disclosed in its offering documents.
Atlanta, Tampa, Orlando, Charlotte, Birmingham, Jacksonville, and Brooklyn portfolios.
Expected Returns
CrowdStreet reports a historical realized IRR of approximately 18.3% before fees across exited deals. After typical sponsor fees, real net IRR is meaningfully lower and varies deal-by-deal. Some realized deals have lost all investor capital — a reality CrowdStreet discloses in its annual performance report.
Historical dividend yields on Landa properties ranged roughly 3–6% annually depending on the property, with variable monthly distributions. Several properties reduced or suspended distributions due to vacancies or maintenance costs. Current returns are N/A while the platform is paused. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees
Reported returns are gross of fees. Sponsors charge investors whatever they see fit — fees can exceed 20% of invested capital over the hold period. CrowdStreet itself charges sponsors 0.5–2% to list, indirectly built into deal pricing.
Landa historically did not charge an investor-facing platform fee, but earned revenue through property management markups and series-level operating expenses. The full fee picture for any future restart has not been re-disclosed.
Liquidity
Hold periods are typically 3–7 years. CrowdStreet's own disclosures warn investors may be forced to hold for 10+ years if sponsors delay sale.
Indefinite while the secondary market is closed. Investors who already hold shares cannot sell on-platform until trading resumes.
Who Can Invest
Accredited investors only. Verification of income ($200k+ individual / $300k+ couple) or net worth ($1M+ excluding primary residence) is required before investing.
Open to U.S. investors who can pass identity verification. International availability has historically been limited. While the platform is paused, no new investors can deposit funds.
The Verdict
CrowdStreet is a credible option for high-net-worth, accredited investors who want curated access to institutional commercial real estate. Documentation is strong, the sponsor vetting is real, and historical IRRs look attractive. But the $25,000 minimum, sponsor-controlled exits, lack of secondary market, and the lessons of the 2022 Nightingale case make this a platform that demands sophistication and diversification. Retail investors and anyone looking for liquidity will find better options elsewhere.
Full CrowdStreet review →Landa was a pioneering low-minimum fractional real estate platform, but as of 2026 it has paused new offerings, deposits, and secondary trading. There is no public on-platform path for new investment or secondary-market selling today. Investors looking for an active fractional real estate platform should compare alternatives such as Lofty (24/7 marketplace, daily rent payouts, $50 minimum), and current Landa holders should plan around an uncertain timeline until the company announces when trading will resume.
Full Landa review →Bottom Line
CrowdStreet scores higher (3.0/5) and edges out Landa on our investment quality criteria.
CrowdStreet is a credible way for accredited investors to access vetted commercial real estate deals, but $25,000 minimums, sponsor-driven fees, and 3–10 year holds put it out of reach for most retail investors. The 2022 Nightingale fraud case is also a sobering reminder that sponsor risk on crowdfunding platforms is real.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our scoring criteria — returns, fees, liquidity, transparency, minimums, and track record — CrowdStreet (3.0/5) scores higher than Landa (1.5/5). CrowdStreet is a credible way for accredited investors to access vetted commercial real estate deals, but $25,000 minimums, sponsor-driven fees, and 3–10 year holds put it out of reach for most retail investors. The 2022 Nightingale fraud case is also a sobering reminder that sponsor risk on crowdfunding platforms is real.
CrowdStreet's minimum investment is $25,000. Landa's minimum investment is $5 (when active).
CrowdStreet: Hold periods are typically 3–7 years. CrowdStreet's own disclosures warn investors may be forced to hold for 10+ years if sponsors delay sale. Landa: Indefinite while the secondary market is closed. Investors who already hold shares cannot sell on-platform until trading resumes.
CrowdStreet reports average yearly returns of ~18.3% historical IRR before fees on realized deals. Landa reports average yearly returns of Historical dividend yields ranged ~3–6%; current returns N/A while platform is paused. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
One of the most flexible ways to invest in real estate
$50 minimums · Daily rent payouts · No lock-up periods · 24/7 exchange