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.
Groundfloor is a strong, transparent option for investors who want short-term, real-estate-backed yield without picking properties. ~10% historical returns, zero investor fees, and 6–18 month terms are excellent — but you're a lender, not an owner, so upside is capped and default risk 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
Zero investor fees
Groundfloor charges investors nothing — no AUM, no transaction fees, no closing costs. Borrowers pay 2–4.5% origination plus closing fees, so the entire interest yield flows to investors.
$10 per-loan minimum
Investors can spread $100 across ten loans, making real diversification accessible. Groundfloor's account minimum is $100 and individual loans go down to $10.
Short hold periods (6–18 months)
Most Groundfloor loans mature in 6–18 months — dramatically shorter than the 5–7 year holds typical of equity-style platforms — making it a useful complement to longer-duration real estate.
Transparent, A–G grading
Every loan is graded A–G with corresponding interest rates and risk factors. Loan documents, project details, and borrower track records are published before funding.
Capped upside
You're a lender. If a property doubles in value, you still only earn the interest rate on the loan. None of the appreciation upside flows to investors.
Lump-sum and deferred payouts
Many loans are deferred-payment, meaning interest accrues but isn't paid until the loan is fully repaid. That hurts compounding versus monthly- or daily-payout platforms.
Default risk is real
Groundfloor's reported default rate has historically been higher than peer platforms. Recoveries through foreclosure can take time and erode returns. The collateral is the property itself.
No early withdrawal
Once you fund a loan, capital is locked until the loan repays. There's no secondary market for Groundfloor LROs.
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
Three core products: Groundfloor Original (individual loans graded A–G), Stairs by Groundfloor (a savings-style product paying a steady rate), and Notes (short-duration debt instruments). All are real estate debt — no equity ownership.
Historically, fractional shares of single-family rental homes in U.S. Sun Belt markets. New offerings are paused as of 2026.
Property Locations
Groundfloor lends in 45+ U.S. states, giving investors broad geographic diversification across one platform.
Atlanta, Tampa, Orlando, Charlotte, Birmingham, Jacksonville, and Brooklyn portfolios.
Expected Returns
Groundfloor's historical average return is approximately 10% per year. A diversified portfolio across all available loans has historically produced around 10.7% annualized. Loans pay between roughly 5.5% (A grade) and 25%+ (G grade), and investors earn the same rate the borrower pays. Capital not deployed within 45 days returns to the investor with no interest.
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
Zero investor fees. Borrowers pay 2–4.5% origination plus other closing fees, all visible inside the offering documents but not charged to investors.
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
Holding period equals the loan term — typically 6–18 months. Investors can target shorter durations by buying into in-progress loans.
Indefinite while the secondary market is closed. Investors who already hold shares cannot sell on-platform until trading resumes.
Who Can Invest
Open to non-accredited and accredited U.S. investors. International investors can participate but must email support to fund accounts and meet a $5,000 minimum transfer.
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
Groundfloor is one of the cleanest options in real estate crowdfunding. Zero investor fees, ~10% historical returns, short 6–18 month durations, and full transparency on every loan make it a strong fit for investors who want yield backed by real estate without picking properties or signing up for a 5+ year lock-up. The trade-off is real: you're a lender with capped upside and default exposure, not an owner with a stake in appreciation.
Full Groundfloor 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
Groundfloor scores higher (4.0/5) and edges out Landa on our investment quality criteria.
Groundfloor is a strong, transparent option for investors who want short-term, real-estate-backed yield without picking properties. ~10% historical returns, zero investor fees, and 6–18 month terms are excellent — but you're a lender, not an owner, so upside is capped and default risk is real.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our scoring criteria — returns, fees, liquidity, transparency, minimums, and track record — Groundfloor (4.0/5) scores higher than Landa (1.5/5). Groundfloor is a strong, transparent option for investors who want short-term, real-estate-backed yield without picking properties. ~10% historical returns, zero investor fees, and 6–18 month terms are excellent — but you're a lender, not an owner, so upside is capped and default risk is real.
Groundfloor's minimum investment is $10 per loan ($100 account minimum). Landa's minimum investment is $5 (when active).
Groundfloor: Holding period equals the loan term — typically 6–18 months. Investors can target shorter durations by buying into in-progress loans. Landa: Indefinite while the secondary market is closed. Investors who already hold shares cannot sell on-platform until trading resumes.
Groundfloor reports average yearly returns of ~10% historical average. 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