In-Depth Real Estate Investing Reviews· Updated May 5, 2026

Roots Review (2026): Pros, Cons, Fees & Returns

Roots is a $100-minimum residential REIT that pays renters back through a 'Live in it Like You Own It' equity program — but how does its quarterly liquidity model compare to other 2026 real estate platforms?

Investment Quality Score

3.5

3.5 / 5

By the Numbers

Minimum Investment: $100
Holding Period: 1 year minimum to avoid early-redemption penalty
Early Withdrawal: Penalty applies in first 12 months; no penalty after year one
Rent Payout: Quarterly distributions
Avg. Yearly Returns: 12.02% trailing 12 months (4/10/25 – 4/10/26); 17.17% average annual since inception 7/1/2021

The Bottom Line

Should You Invest With Roots?

Roots offers an unusual win-win structure where renters earn shares of the REIT alongside investors, with $100 minimums, quarterly distributions, quarterly liquidity, and a 12.02% trailing twelve-month return as of April 2026 — but investors hold REIT shares rather than direct property ownership.

Pros & Cons

Roots Pros and Cons

Roots Pros

$100 minimum, open to non-accredited investors
Roots is open to both non-accredited and accredited investors with a $100 starting minimum, making it one of the more accessible REIT-style platforms for first-time real estate investors.
Quarterly liquidity
Roots offers investors the ability to redeem shares every quarter — meaningfully more flexible than the multi-year lock-ups common at Arrived, CrowdStreet, and Cadre. After the first 12-month holding period there's no early-redemption penalty.
Strong reported track record
Roots reports a 12.02% trailing twelve-month return (4/10/25 – 4/10/26) and a 17.17% average annual return since inception in July 2021. Returns are not guaranteed, but the published track record is competitive with peer REIT funds.
Renters build wealth alongside investors
The 'Live in it Like You Own It' program gives Roots renters quarterly equity grants for behaviors that improve property value (paying rent on time, keeping properties in good condition). Roots reports more than $1.7M saved and invested by renters under the program.
Low transaction fees
Only a $5 transaction fee to get started and no penalty to cash out after the first year — light fees compared with Fundrise's 1% AUM or Arrived's variable sponsor markups.

Roots Cons

REIT shares, not direct property ownership
You own units of the Roots REIT, not fractional ownership of a specific property. That's simpler and more diversified than per-property models, but it means investors don't pick individual properties or vote on property-level decisions.
💡 Investment Tip: If you specifically want to choose properties (or own a fractional LLC interest), Lofty's per-property model gives you that control. Roots is for hands-off REIT exposure.
Geographically concentrated
Roots is heavily concentrated in the Atlanta metro and a small number of additional Sun Belt markets. That focus is part of the brand but means less geographic diversification than national platforms.
💡 Investment Tip: If Atlanta-area performance softens, the whole REIT is exposed. Pair Roots with a national platform if geographic diversification matters.
Quarterly (not daily) distributions
Distributions are paid quarterly rather than daily or monthly. Investors waiting on real estate income for cash flow may find quarterly cadence inconvenient.
💡 Investment Tip: Lofty pays rent daily and Mogul / Ark7 pay monthly if cash-flow cadence is a priority.
Less property-level transparency than per-property platforms
Because Roots is a fund, individual property underwriting and rent rolls are aggregated rather than fully exposed to investors.
💡 Investment Tip: If you want full unit-economics on every deal, a per-property platform like Lofty publishes that level of detail.

The Basics

What is Roots and How Does it Work?

Roots is a residential REIT operated by Seed InvestCo, LLC at investwithroots.com that lets investors buy units of the Roots REIT for as little as $100. Capital is pooled to acquire income-generating residential properties — primarily in Atlanta and other Sun Belt markets — and distributions are paid quarterly. Roots' signature differentiator is its 'Live in it Like You Own It' program, which awards renters quarterly equity in the REIT for property-improving behaviors. As of 2026, Roots reports 29,500+ investors and $102M+ invested.

What Kind of Investing

Units of a single residential REIT focused on income-generating residential real estate, primarily in Atlanta and other Sun Belt metros. Investors receive quarterly distributions and quarterly liquidity windows.

Who Can Invest

Open to both non-accredited and accredited U.S. investors aged 18 or older. International availability is limited.

How They Get Properties

Roots' team sources and acquires residential properties, places them in the REIT, and manages them through partner property managers. The REIT structure means investors do not pick individual properties.

Experience & Track Record

Roots launched in July 2021. As of May 2026, the platform reports 29,500+ investors, $102M+ invested, $1.7M+ in renter equity earned through the Live in it Like You Own It program, and a 17.17% average annual return since inception.

Ease of Use

How Easy is it to Invest with Roots?

What Can You Invest In

A single REIT — the Roots REIT — focused on residential real estate in Atlanta and select other Sun Belt markets.

Property Locations

Primarily Atlanta metro, with select expansion into adjacent Sun Belt markets.

Minimum Investment

$100 minimum to start, with no maximum. Recurring monthly investments are supported.

Documentation & Due Diligence

Roots files its offering circular with the SEC (filed under CIK 0001866803) and publishes performance updates on the investor dashboard. Property-level detail is aggregated at the REIT level.

How to Invest

Create an account at investwithroots.com, complete identity verification, and invest $100 or more into the Roots REIT. Distributions are paid quarterly directly into your account.

Earning Potential

Roots Returns — How Much Can You Make?

Expected Return

Roots targets 12–15% annual returns and reports 12.02% trailing twelve months (4/10/25 – 4/10/26) and 17.17% average annual return since inception (7/1/2021). Past performance does not guarantee future results — read the offering circular before investing.

Payout Frequency

Distributions are paid quarterly and reinvested unless investors withdraw them.

Fees & How They Make Money

Roots charges a $5 transaction fee to get started and no early-redemption penalty after the first year. There is no investor-facing AUM fee disclosed; the REIT covers operating expenses internally before distributing returns.

“A 12% trailing twelve-month return on a $100-minimum REIT with quarterly liquidity is a competitive package — but investors trade direct property ownership and daily payouts for that simplicity.”

Investment Liquidity

What Happens When You Want to Sell?

Holding Period

12-month minimum holding period to avoid an early-redemption penalty. After year one there is no exit penalty.

Early Withdrawal

Available quarterly. Within the first 12 months a redemption penalty applies; after 12 months there is no penalty.

How Much Control They Have Over Your Money

Roots offers more liquidity than most private real estate platforms — quarterly redemption windows are rare in this space — but investors do not have a 24/7 exchange or daily payouts.

Quarterly redemption windows once 12 months have passed
12-month early-redemption penalty before that
Distributions are paid quarterly, not daily or monthly
REIT structure means investors do not pick or sell individual properties
Compare with Lofty's 24/7 exchange with no lock-up if maximum liquidity matters

“Quarterly liquidity is unusual in private real estate — Roots is meaningfully more liquid than Arrived, CrowdStreet, or Cadre, but less liquid than Lofty's 24/7 exchange.”

The Final Verdict

Is Roots a Good Investment?

Roots is one of the most differentiated REIT options in 2026. The win-win renter-equity model is genuinely unique, the $100 minimum is accessible, quarterly liquidity is meaningfully better than most private real estate platforms, and the published 12% trailing return is competitive. The trade-offs are REIT (not direct property) ownership, a heavy Atlanta concentration, and quarterly (not daily) distributions. A solid hands-off pick for investors aligned with its mission.

Our Rating:

3.5 / 5

Compare

Compare Roots to Other Platforms

Extras

What Else You Should Know About Roots

Live in it Like You Own It

Roots' signature program gives renters quarterly equity in the REIT for behaviors that improve property value — paying rent on time, keeping properties in good condition, and being good neighbors. Roots reports more than $1.7M earned by renters through the program.

Atlanta-headquartered

Roots is based in Atlanta with deep concentration in the Atlanta metro real estate market.

SEC filings

Roots' offering circular and ongoing filings are public under SEC CIK 0001866803.

Frequently Asked Questions

Roots FAQ

Is Roots a good investment in 2026?

Roots reports a 12.02% trailing twelve-month return (4/10/25 – 4/10/26), $100 minimums, quarterly liquidity, and a unique renter-equity program. That's a strong package for hands-off REIT exposure, but investors give up direct property ownership and accept heavy Atlanta concentration. Whether it's right for you depends on whether you prioritize liquidity (Roots scores well), property choice (Lofty scores better), or daily cash flow (Lofty pays daily; Roots pays quarterly).

What is the minimum investment on Roots?

$100. Both non-accredited and accredited U.S. investors are eligible.

Can I cash out of Roots?

Yes — Roots offers quarterly liquidity windows. There is a 12-month minimum holding period, after which there is no early-redemption penalty.

What returns does Roots pay?

Roots reports 12.02% trailing twelve-month returns (4/10/25 – 4/10/26) and 17.17% average annual returns since inception in July 2021. Distributions are paid quarterly and can be reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

How is Roots different from Fundrise or Arrived?

Fundrise is a multi-fund REIT platform with $10 minimums and 5+ year recommended holds. Arrived is per-property single-family rentals with $100 minimums and 5–7 year sponsor-controlled exits. Roots is a single Atlanta-focused REIT with $100 minimums, quarterly liquidity, and a renter-equity program — meaningfully more liquid than Arrived and more concentrated than Fundrise.

Lofty is one of the most flexible ways to invest in real estate.

Start building generational wealth

Enjoy $50 minimums, daily rent payouts, no lock-up periods, and a 24/7 exchange for buying and selling shares.

View Properties Get started free

In-Depth Real Estate Investing Reviews· Updated May 5, 2026

Roots Review (2026): Pros, Cons, Fees & Returns

Investment Quality Score

3.5

3.5 / 5

By the Numbers

Minimum Investment: $100
Holding Period: 1 year minimum to avoid early-redemption penalty
Early Withdrawal: Penalty applies in first 12 months; no penalty after year one
Rent Payout: Quarterly distributions
Avg. Yearly Returns: 12.02% trailing 12 months (4/10/25 – 4/10/26); 17.17% average annual since inception 7/1/2021

The Bottom Line

Should You Invest With Roots?

Pros & Cons

Roots Pros and Cons

Roots Pros

$100 minimum, open to non-accredited investors
Roots is open to both non-accredited and accredited investors with a $100 starting minimum, making it one of the more accessible REIT-style platforms for first-time real estate investors.
Quarterly liquidity
Roots offers investors the ability to redeem shares every quarter — meaningfully more flexible than the multi-year lock-ups common at Arrived, CrowdStreet, and Cadre. After the first 12-month holding period there's no early-redemption penalty.
Strong reported track record
Roots reports a 12.02% trailing twelve-month return (4/10/25 – 4/10/26) and a 17.17% average annual return since inception in July 2021. Returns are not guaranteed, but the published track record is competitive with peer REIT funds.
Renters build wealth alongside investors
The 'Live in it Like You Own It' program gives Roots renters quarterly equity grants for behaviors that improve property value (paying rent on time, keeping properties in good condition). Roots reports more than $1.7M saved and invested by renters under the program.
Low transaction fees
Only a $5 transaction fee to get started and no penalty to cash out after the first year — light fees compared with Fundrise's 1% AUM or Arrived's variable sponsor markups.

Roots Cons

REIT shares, not direct property ownership
You own units of the Roots REIT, not fractional ownership of a specific property. That's simpler and more diversified than per-property models, but it means investors don't pick individual properties or vote on property-level decisions.
💡 Investment Tip: If you specifically want to choose properties (or own a fractional LLC interest), Lofty's per-property model gives you that control. Roots is for hands-off REIT exposure.
Geographically concentrated
Roots is heavily concentrated in the Atlanta metro and a small number of additional Sun Belt markets. That focus is part of the brand but means less geographic diversification than national platforms.
💡 Investment Tip: If Atlanta-area performance softens, the whole REIT is exposed. Pair Roots with a national platform if geographic diversification matters.
Quarterly (not daily) distributions
Distributions are paid quarterly rather than daily or monthly. Investors waiting on real estate income for cash flow may find quarterly cadence inconvenient.
💡 Investment Tip: Lofty pays rent daily and Mogul / Ark7 pay monthly if cash-flow cadence is a priority.
Less property-level transparency than per-property platforms
Because Roots is a fund, individual property underwriting and rent rolls are aggregated rather than fully exposed to investors.
💡 Investment Tip: If you want full unit-economics on every deal, a per-property platform like Lofty publishes that level of detail.

The Basics

What is Roots and How Does it Work?

What Kind of Investing

Who Can Invest

Open to both non-accredited and accredited U.S. investors aged 18 or older. International availability is limited.

How They Get Properties

Experience & Track Record

Ease of Use

How Easy is it to Invest with Roots?

What Can You Invest In

A single REIT — the Roots REIT — focused on residential real estate in Atlanta and select other Sun Belt markets.

Property Locations

Primarily Atlanta metro, with select expansion into adjacent Sun Belt markets.

Minimum Investment

$100 minimum to start, with no maximum. Recurring monthly investments are supported.

Documentation & Due Diligence

Roots files its offering circular with the SEC (filed under CIK 0001866803) and publishes performance updates on the investor dashboard. Property-level detail is aggregated at the REIT level.

How to Invest

Create an account at investwithroots.com, complete identity verification, and invest $100 or more into the Roots REIT. Distributions are paid quarterly directly into your account.

Earning Potential

Roots Returns — How Much Can You Make?

Expected Return

Payout Frequency

Distributions are paid quarterly and reinvested unless investors withdraw them.

Fees & How They Make Money

“A 12% trailing twelve-month return on a $100-minimum REIT with quarterly liquidity is a competitive package — but investors trade direct property ownership and daily payouts for that simplicity.”

Investment Liquidity

What Happens When You Want to Sell?

Holding Period

12-month minimum holding period to avoid an early-redemption penalty. After year one there is no exit penalty.

Early Withdrawal

Available quarterly. Within the first 12 months a redemption penalty applies; after 12 months there is no penalty.

How Much Control They Have Over Your Money

Roots offers more liquidity than most private real estate platforms — quarterly redemption windows are rare in this space — but investors do not have a 24/7 exchange or daily payouts.

Quarterly redemption windows once 12 months have passed
12-month early-redemption penalty before that
Distributions are paid quarterly, not daily or monthly
REIT structure means investors do not pick or sell individual properties
Compare with Lofty's 24/7 exchange with no lock-up if maximum liquidity matters

“Quarterly liquidity is unusual in private real estate — Roots is meaningfully more liquid than Arrived, CrowdStreet, or Cadre, but less liquid than Lofty's 24/7 exchange.”

The Final Verdict

Is Roots a Good Investment?

Our Rating:

3.5 / 5

Compare

Compare Roots to Other Platforms

Extras

What Else You Should Know About Roots

Live in it Like You Own It

Atlanta-headquartered

Roots is based in Atlanta with deep concentration in the Atlanta metro real estate market.

SEC filings

Roots' offering circular and ongoing filings are public under SEC CIK 0001866803.

Frequently Asked Questions

Roots FAQ

Is Roots a good investment in 2026?

What is the minimum investment on Roots?

$100. Both non-accredited and accredited U.S. investors are eligible.

Can I cash out of Roots?

Yes — Roots offers quarterly liquidity windows. There is a 12-month minimum holding period, after which there is no early-redemption penalty.

What returns does Roots pay?

How is Roots different from Fundrise or Arrived?

Lofty is one of the most flexible ways to invest in real estate.

Start building generational wealth

Enjoy $50 minimums, daily rent payouts, no lock-up periods, and a 24/7 exchange for buying and selling shares.

View Properties Get started free