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.
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.
Yieldstreet — now Willow Wealth — is one of the largest alternative-investment marketplaces in the U.S., with $6 billion+ cumulative invested across real estate, private credit, art, and venture. But ~$208M in cumulative investor losses, a 30%+ real estate default rate, and a recent rebrand make it hard to recommend without significant caveats.
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
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.
Broad alternative-asset access
Real estate, private credit, art, venture capital, legal finance, and structured products on one platform — useful for accredited investors who want diversification across multiple alt-asset classes.
Institutional fund partnerships
Through Willow 360, accredited investors can access funds from Carlyle, Goldman Sachs, and StepStone in a managed-portfolio format — institutional access typical retail investors can't get directly.
Long track record
The platform has 500,000+ members and $6 billion+ cumulative invested since 2015 — by far the largest alternative-investment retail brand in our comparison set.
Cumulative investor losses reported in the press
CNBC reporting in late 2025 totaled approximately $208 million of cumulative investor losses across the Yieldstreet platform — combining $41M in new Houston/Nashville real estate defaults disclosed in December, $89M in marine-loan wipeouts disclosed in September, and $78M in previously reported losses. The company rebranded to Willow Wealth in October 2025.
Elevated real estate default rate per independent reviewers
Independent reviewers (notably the Real Estate Crowdfunding Review) have estimated the platform's real estate portfolio default rate at roughly 30%, materially higher than the 2–8% range typical of peer platforms. Real estate exposure here has historically been riskier than many peer platforms.
Accredited-only on most offerings
Most direct deals are limited to accredited investors. The Alternative Income Fund (Prism Fund) is the main option for non-accredited investors but represents a small slice of the platform's offerings.
Layered fees
Annual management fees range from 1% to 4% depending on offering. Many deals also charge first-year setup fees ($100–$150 per SPV/note) and administrative fees on top.
Rebrand complicates research
The October 2025 rebrand from Yieldstreet to Willow Wealth means many older reviews still reference the old brand. Some historical performance disclosures were reorganized after the rebrand, making apples-to-apples comparison harder.
Deep Dive
What You're Investing In
MogulREIT I (income-focused, monthly distributions), MogulREIT II (apartment growth, quarterly distributions), and individual private placements (accredited only, 5+ year holds, higher minimums).
Direct deals across real estate equity, real estate debt, private credit, art, legal finance, venture capital, and structured notes. Plus the Alternative Income Fund (open to non-accredited) and Willow 360 managed portfolios (accredited only).
Property Locations
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.
Real estate deals are sourced across U.S. markets with a mix of commercial and multifamily exposure. Specific geographies vary deal-by-deal.
Expected Returns
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.
Yieldstreet (Willow Wealth) reports a historical net annualized return of approximately 7.4% since 2015 — a figure built primarily during the Yieldstreet era. Realized performance varies dramatically by asset class and individual deal. Independent reviews note a 30%+ real estate default rate that materially increases risk-adjusted return calculations.
Fees
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.
1–4% annual management fees, depending on offering. Many deals also carry first-year setup fees (~$100–$150 per SPV or note) plus administrative fees of approximately 0.5%. Originator fees on some deals add another 0.5%.
Liquidity
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.
Varies by deal. Notes can mature in months; real estate deals run multiple years; venture capital and legal finance can extend longer. Most offerings are illiquid by design.
Who Can Invest
MogulREITs are open to non-accredited and accredited U.S. investors. Private placements and 1031 exchange offerings are restricted to accredited investors only.
Most direct offerings are limited to accredited investors. The Alternative Income Fund (formerly Prism Fund) accepts non-accredited investors with a $10,000 minimum. Willow 360 managed portfolios require accredited status with a $25,000 minimum.
The Verdict
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 →Yieldstreet — now Willow Wealth — is one of the largest alternative-investment platforms in the U.S. with a genuine breadth of asset classes other platforms can't match. But cumulative investor losses of ~$208 million, a 30%+ real estate default rate, the recent rebrand, and the post-rebrand reorganization of historical performance data make it a platform to approach with significant caution. Investors who want straightforward fractional real estate exposure will find better fit at smaller, more focused platforms.
Full Yieldstreet (Willow Wealth) review →Bottom Line
RealtyMogul scores higher (3.0/5) and edges out Yieldstreet (Willow Wealth) 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 Yieldstreet (Willow Wealth) (2.0/5). 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.
RealtyMogul's minimum investment is $5,000 (REITs); $25,000–$50,000+ (private placements). Yieldstreet (Willow Wealth)'s minimum investment is $5,000–$10,000 (most direct deals); $25,000 (Willow 360).
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. Yieldstreet (Willow Wealth): Varies by deal. Notes can mature in months; real estate deals run multiple years; venture capital and legal finance can extend longer. Most offerings are illiquid by design.
RealtyMogul reports average yearly returns of Income REIT targets 6–8% annual distributions; private placements target higher IRR. Yieldstreet (Willow Wealth) reports average yearly returns of ~7.4% net annualized (Yieldstreet era, since 2015). 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