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.
RealT pioneered low-minimum fractional exposure to U.S. rental properties with weekly rent distributions, but the platform is currently closed to U.S. citizens and residents and operates under a Reg S offering for non-U.S. investors only. American investors who want a similar fractional U.S. rental experience can compare Lofty (per-property fractional shares, 24/7 marketplace, daily payouts, $50 minimum), Arrived (single-family rentals, $100 minimum, quarterly distributions), or Roots (Atlanta-focused REIT, $100 minimum, quarterly liquidity).
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
Long-running international platform
RealT has been operating since 2019 through RealToken Inc. (Boca Raton, FL) and has fractionalized hundreds of U.S. single-family rental properties under a Reg S offering for non-U.S. investors.
Weekly rent distributions
RealT distributes rent payments weekly to investors holding RealTokens, paid out in stablecoins (xDai / USDC) on the Gnosis Chain. Weekly is more frequent than monthly or quarterly schedules used by most competitors.
Detroit and Midwest single-family focus
RealT concentrated heavily on Detroit single-family rentals and has expanded into Cleveland, Chicago, Memphis, and other Midwest cash-flow markets — asset classes that historically produce above-average rental yields.
Per-token minimums roughly $50
When accessible, RealT's per-token prices are typically around $50, giving non-U.S. investors a low entry point to U.S. rental property exposure.
Not open to U.S. citizens or residents
RealT.co explicitly geo-blocks U.S. visitors and states the website is not open to U.S. citizens or residents. The platform operates under Regulation S, which excludes U.S. persons. RealT has said a U.S.-eligible offering is in the works but is not yet available.
Self-custody and DEX complexity
RealT investors hold RealTokens in a self-custody wallet on the Gnosis Chain or Ethereum, and secondary trading happens on third-party decentralized exchanges. That adds wallet management, gas fees, and DEX liquidity risk that traditional fractional platforms do not have.
Property-level performance variance
Returns vary widely by property — some Detroit properties have produced strong yields, while others have suffered from vacancies, tenant turnover, or capex shocks. Diversification across multiple RealTokens has historically been important.
Reg S structure limits investor protections vs. Reg A
Regulation S offerings (used by RealT for non-U.S. investors) carry different investor-protection requirements than Regulation A offerings used by U.S.-eligible competitors. U.S. investors should weigh that difference if RealT's U.S.-eligible offering eventually launches.
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. single-family rental properties, fractionalized into RealTokens. Each property typically has its own RealToken contract on the Gnosis Chain or Ethereum.
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
Primarily Detroit, with significant exposure to Cleveland, Chicago, Memphis, and other Midwest cash-flow markets.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
RealT is one of the longest-running fractional real estate platforms in the world and a legitimate option for non-U.S. investors who want exposure to U.S. single-family rentals with weekly distributions. But because RealT does not accept U.S. citizens or residents today, U.S. investors looking for a similar fractional U.S. rental experience need to use a U.S.-eligible alternative — most directly Lofty (24/7 marketplace, daily payouts, $50 per-property minimum), with Arrived and Roots also worth comparing depending on whether you prefer per-property ownership or a REIT structure.
Full RealT 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
RealtyMogul scores higher (3.0/5) and edges out RealT on our investment quality criteria.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our scoring criteria — returns, fees, liquidity, transparency, minimums, and track record — RealtyMogul (3.0/5) scores higher than RealT (2.5/5). 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.
RealT's minimum investment is ~$50 per token (when accessible); not currently available to U.S. investors. RealtyMogul's minimum investment is $5,000 (REITs); $25,000–$50,000+ (private placements).
RealT: 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. 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.
RealT reports average yearly returns of Historical net rental yields ~6–10% per property; total returns vary by property and market. 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