Lofty vs. RealT 2026 Real Estate Investing Comparison

Individual U.S. real estate — single-family homes, multi-family buildings, mixed-use properties, and commercial real estate — fractionalized into shares of a property-specific LLC. Investors can also trade their shares with other investors on Lofty's exchange at any time.

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

Lofty properties span roughly 40 U.S. markets, with active diversification across states and regions so investors can build a geographically balanced portfolio. Specific market mix is updated as new properties are listed.

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

Returns vary by individual property. As of May 2026, Lofty's marketplace has a 9.2% average rental yield across 111 properties. Each property page lists projected rent, projected appreciation, and historical comps so investors can model expected returns themselves before committing capital. Past performance does not guarantee future results — read each property's underwriting carefully.

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.

Lofty charges a 2.5% fee on share purchases and a 3% fee on share sales — meaning a round-trip trade carries roughly 5.5% in exchange fees. There are no AUM fees, no property management fees billed directly to investors, no upfront fees, and no early withdrawal penalties.

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.

There is no minimum holding period on Lofty. Investors can list their shares for sale on the exchange at any time, at any price they choose.

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.

Lofty is open to U.S. citizens and many international investors who can complete identity verification. Investors must be 18 or older.

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.