Want to Invest in Real Estate But Are Short on Time or Cash? Here’s How to Start in 10 Minutes

Gone are the days when you needed to make six‑figure down payments or spend weekends doing property tours to own a piece of real estate. Today, firms like Fundrise, Arrived Homes and Yieldstreet let you browse vetted deals online, set up an account and make your first investment in minutes with nothing more than $10 to $100.

Learn how to get started with fractional platforms.

Is There an Easy and Cost-Effective Way to Invest in Real Estate?

Yes, there is. With fractional real estate, you buy a slice of a property alongside other investors, owning a share that matches your cash outlay. That approach cuts out big down payments, loan approvals, inspections and the day‑to‑day work of upkeep.

In contrast, owning a whole property often means putting down 20% to 25% of its price, covering closing fees, signing stacks of documents and taking on landlord duties. Real estate crowdfunding platforms handle all of that. You pick a deal, fund your share and let the experts handle paperwork, maintenance and tenant relations, freeing you to invest without tying up your time.

How Fractional Real Estate Saves You Time

Here’s how fractional real estate can help you reduce time-consuming responsibilities:

No Property Hunting Required

Fractional platforms handle all the legwork of scouting neighborhoods, vetting deals and completing purchases. That means you can tap into rental income and property appreciation without carving out extra hours in your week.

Freedom From Landlord Responsibilities

Once you’re on board, the platform’s local property managers take every repair request, coordinate maintenance and handle tenant issues on your behalf.

Fully Managed Investments via Online Platforms

After you fund your share, the rest happens behind the scenes. The platform team screens tenants, collects rent, pays bills and keeps the books. When you want an update, just sign in to your dashboard.

Automated Diversification

You can spread your investment across apartments, offices or industrial sites in multiple regions with a few clicks. Rather than hunting down each property yourself, you pick a handful of offerings on the platform and allocate funds.

Hands‑Off Income Streams

Once you’re in, the platform team handles rent collection, expense payments and distributions – an ideal situation for beginner real estate investing. You don’t chase down checks or field maintenance calls. Instead, you receive regular payouts, either monthly or quarterly, straight to your account.

How It Saves You Money

Here’s how fractional platforms can help you invest in property with little money: 

Low Minimum Investment Thresholds

You don’t need tens of thousands to get started. Some platforms let you invest with just $10, so you can begin building a stake in real estate no matter the size of your savings.

No Mortgage or Large Down Payment

You can buy shares directly instead of taking out a loan, meaning no credit checks, no stacks of forms and no hefty down payments. You invest only what you have on hand and skip debt, fees and extra paperwork.

Lower Risk Through Diversified Exposure

If you put all your money into one building, a single market slump or vacancy can sting hard. With fractional investing, you can spread $5,000 across ten properties in various locations. That way, a downturn in one city or sector can’t derail your entire investment.

Elimination of Hidden Costs

Full ownership brings closing fees, property taxes, insurance premiums and surprise repair bills. Fractional platforms bundle those expenses into the share price or split them among all investors. You see every fee up front in the offering documents, so you invest a fixed amount and avoid unexpected bills down the road.

How to Get Started in 10 Minutes

Here’s how you can quickly get started with most platforms:

Choose a Platform

First, pick a platform that fits your style. For instance, Fundrise lets you open an account with just $10 and finish in under five minutes. If you want to own a slice of a single‑family rental, Arrived Homes offers shares starting at $100. 

Before making your choice, find out how long your money stays tied up, the projected returns and the properties each platform offers.

Create an Account

To create your account, enter basic details like name, address, email and Social Security number. Snap a photo of your ID. Automated verification usually clears within minutes.

Select an Investment Strategy

Once your account is live, decide how you want to invest. You might aim for steady payouts from income‑producing properties or hunt for growth in emerging neighborhoods. Consider how much risk you can handle and whether you want to back a single high‑conviction opportunity or spread your cash across several assets. 

Fund Your Account

Next, connect your bank account. Most platforms use secure connections and small test deposits to verify your link. Decide on an amount that matches your budget, then transfer funds.

Start Investing

With cash in your account, browse available offerings. When you spot a deal you like, confirm your selection and click “invest.” You’re now officially a real estate investor.

Top Platforms to Consider

Below are some of the best platforms that can help you get started:

1. Arrived Homes

You can own a share of a single‑family or vacation rental with just $100 per property. The platform’s clean interface makes picking Class A homes easy. Once you’re in, expect rent yields around 3% to 5% each year and plan to hold for five to seven years.

2. Fundrise

If you’d rather start smaller, Fundrise lets you open a taxable account with only $10 and you can complete your sign-up in under five minutes.

IRAs require $1,000 to kick off. Fundrise bundles deals into eREITs and Starter Portfolios so you get a mix of commercial real estate, all managed for a 0.85% annual fee. You pick your plan, fund it and the platform handles the rest from asset selection to quarterly dividends.

3. Yieldstreet

Yieldstreet’s Growth & Income REIT requires a $10,000 minimum and focuses on commercial real estate debt and equity deals in high‑growth metro and Sun Belt markets. It pools capital across apartments, industrial sites, retail centers, hotels and self‑storage. You’ll get quarterly income distributions and the Yieldstreet team underwrites each deal, manages assets and sends your payouts.

Realistic Expectations and Risks

Fractional real estate investing opens exciting doors, but you must go in clear-eyed about what to expect and what might not go your way.

Market Risk

Even with fractional investing, property values can slip when the economy slows. Rents may dip, vacancy rates can rise and your share’s worth may wobble, especially in the short term. Spreading your money across different locations helps but it won’t erase every risk. Be ready for bumps along the way.

Limited Liquidity Considerations

You won’t always turn shares into cash on demand. Unlike stocks, most fractional deals lock up your money for years. Some platforms let you sell early, but often with fees or waiting periods. Treat your investment as long‑term capital, not a rainy-day fund.

Platform-Specific Considerations

Each platform works a bit differently. Management fees, performance charges and other costs vary, which can chip away at your returns. Read the fine print on fees and redemption rules before you commit.

Changing How Everyday Investors Access Real Estate

Fractional platforms provide a straightforward way to own a slice of real estate with a few clicks and a small sum. Whether you want steady income, a hedge against market swings or a simple way to add property to your portfolio, this approach makes it possible.