Groundfloor vs. Roofstock 2026 Real Estate Investing Comparison

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.

Whole single-family rental homes — typically tenanted, sometimes vacant — from individual sellers, builders, and institutional sources. Multi-property portfolios are also occasionally listed.

Groundfloor lends in 45+ U.S. states, giving investors broad geographic diversification across one platform.

Strong coverage across the Sun Belt — Texas, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas, Alabama, Arizona, Ohio — and select Midwest and East Coast markets. Each listing's market has a published neighborhood and school rating.

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.

Typical SFR cap rates on Roofstock listings range 5–8% gross. Real net returns after vacancy, maintenance, capex, and management fees are typically 1–3 percentage points lower. Total return depends heavily on whether the investor uses leverage, holds for appreciation, and selects strong markets.

Zero investor fees. Borrowers pay 2–4.5% origination plus other closing fees, all visible inside the offering documents but not charged to investors.

Roofstock charges 0.5% of purchase price (or $500 minimum) on the buyer side and 3% (or $2,500 minimum) on the seller side. Property management fees through partner managers typically run 8–10% of gross rent. Standard closing costs and lender fees apply to financed purchases.

Holding period equals the loan term — typically 6–18 months. Investors can target shorter durations by buying into in-progress loans.

Investor-controlled. Owners can hold indefinitely, refinance, or sell whenever they choose.

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 all investors — no accreditation required. Standard mortgage financing is available with typical lender requirements (credit score, down payment, debt-to-income).