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.
Lofty offers one of the most flexible fractional real estate platforms in 2026, with a $50 minimum, daily rent payouts, no lock-up period, and a live exchange where investors set their own prices.
RealtyMogul is a credible, established option for investors who want exposure to commercial real estate REITs. The $5,000 minimum, multi-tier fees, and 3-year minimum hold for redemption make it best for buy-and-hold investors with mid-sized portfolios.
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Daily rent payouts
Lofty pays rent every single day — more frequently than monthly or quarterly schedules used by most peer platforms. Daily payouts give investors faster access to cash flow and let earnings compound sooner if reinvested.
Live 24/7 exchange
Lofty's exchange lets investors list their shares for sale at any time, at any price they choose. There are no lock-up periods, no quarterly redemption windows, and no early withdrawal penalties.
$50 minimum investment
Investors can get started for as little as $50 per property and build a diversified portfolio across multiple homes and markets.
Real fractional ownership through LLCs
Each property is held in its own LLC and investors hold real fractional ownership — not REIT shares, not debt instruments. Owners benefit directly from rent and any appreciation when a property is sold.
Investor voting rights
Owners of fractional shares have voting rights on key property decisions like major repairs, rent changes, and sales — a level of governance most fractional platforms don't offer.
U.S.-only properties
Lofty lists only U.S. real estate. Investors looking for international real estate exposure will need to combine Lofty with another platform.
Smaller property count than legacy platforms
As of May 2026, Lofty has 111 visible marketplace properties — fewer than legacy REIT platforms with multi-billion-dollar portfolios. Selection is growing but is narrower today than at scaled competitors.
Long track record
Founded in 2012, RealtyMogul is one of the original real estate crowdfunding platforms. The company has publicly reported deploying more than $1 billion of investor capital across hundreds of properties since founding.
Real commercial REIT exposure
MogulREIT I (Income) and MogulREIT II (Apartment Growth) give non-accredited investors exposure to institutional-quality commercial real estate — multifamily, office, retail, industrial.
Monthly Income REIT distributions
MogulREIT I pays distributions monthly — more frequent than most peer REIT platforms — and has historically targeted 6–8% annualized distribution yield.
Penalty-free redemption after 3 years
Both MogulREITs offer a quarterly share repurchase program. After 3 years held, investors can redeem at full NAV (subject to availability).
$5,000 REIT minimum
RealtyMogul's REIT minimum is 50x Lofty's and 500x Fundrise's. The high minimum makes it harder to test the platform or diversify without committing real capital.
Complex, layered fees
RealtyMogul charges a 1–1.25% asset management fee plus organization, offering, and acquisition fees that vary by product. Private placements add sponsor-level fees on top.
Early redemption discounts
Redemption requests in years 1–2 are discounted (typically 2–4% off NAV) and not guaranteed if there's insufficient liquidity in the share repurchase program.
Most deals are accredited-only
Only the two MogulREITs are open to non-accredited investors. Individual private placements and 1031 exchange deals require accredited status.
Deep Dive
What You're Investing In
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.
MogulREIT I (income-focused, monthly distributions), MogulREIT II (apartment growth, quarterly distributions), and individual private placements (accredited only, 5+ year holds, higher minimums).
Property Locations
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.
Properties are spread across the U.S. with concentration in growth metros — Texas, Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Arizona, and select coastal cities. Each deal's location is disclosed in the offering documents.
Expected Returns
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.
MogulREIT I targets 6–8% annualized distributions with limited NAV appreciation. MogulREIT II targets growth (apartment value appreciation) with smaller current distributions. Private placements target higher IRRs (often 12–18%) but carry deal-specific risk and longer holds.
Fees
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.
RealtyMogul charges 1–1.25% asset management on REITs plus organization, offering, and acquisition fees that vary by deal. Private placements layer sponsor fees (acquisition, asset management, disposition) on top. Investors should read each deal's full fee schedule.
Liquidity
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.
Both MogulREITs offer a quarterly share repurchase program. After 3 years held, redemption is at full NAV, subject to availability. Private placements typically run 5+ years with no early-exit option.
Who Can Invest
Lofty is open to U.S. citizens and many international investors who can complete identity verification. Investors must be 18 or older.
MogulREITs are open to non-accredited and accredited U.S. investors. Private placements and 1031 exchange offerings are restricted to accredited investors only.
The Verdict
Lofty is one of the most flexible fractional real estate platforms available in 2026. Daily payouts, no lock-up periods, transparent pricing, real LLC-based ownership, and a live exchange make it a strong fit for investors who want maximum control and flexible cash flow from their real estate dollars. Selection is smaller than legacy REIT platforms today, so it pairs well with a fund-style platform if you want broader exposure immediately.
Full Lofty review →RealtyMogul is a credible, well-established option for mid-sized investors who want exposure to commercial real estate REITs with monthly distributions and the option of accredited-only private placements. The trade-offs are real: a $5,000 minimum that limits diversification, layered fees, and a 3-year minimum hold for penalty-free redemption mean RealtyMogul rewards committed buy-and-hold investors. Investors with smaller capital, those wanting daily payouts or a 24/7 exchange, or those focused on direct property-level ownership will find better fit elsewhere.
Full RealtyMogul review →Bottom Line
Lofty scores higher (4.8/5) and offers flexible terms for fractional real estate investors.
Lofty offers one of the most flexible fractional real estate platforms in 2026, with a $50 minimum, daily rent payouts, no lock-up period, and a live exchange where investors set their own prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our scoring criteria — returns, fees, liquidity, transparency, minimums, and track record — Lofty (4.8/5) scores higher than RealtyMogul (3.0/5). Lofty offers one of the most flexible fractional real estate platforms in 2026, with a $50 minimum, daily rent payouts, no lock-up period, and a live exchange where investors set their own prices.
Lofty's minimum investment is $50. RealtyMogul's minimum investment is $5,000 (REITs); $25,000–$50,000+ (private placements).
Lofty: 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. RealtyMogul: Both MogulREITs offer a quarterly share repurchase program. After 3 years held, redemption is at full NAV, subject to availability. Private placements typically run 5+ years with no early-exit option.
Lofty reports average yearly returns of 9.2% avg rental yield. RealtyMogul reports average yearly returns of Income REIT targets 6–8% annual distributions; private placements target higher IRR. 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