Real Estate Platform Comparison· Updated July 15, 2026

Groundfloor vs. RealT 2026 Real Estate Investing Comparison

A side-by-side breakdown of returns, liquidity, fees, and trustworthiness to help you decide where to invest your money.

★ Our Pick Groundfloor logo

4.0

Groundfloor is a strong, transparent option for investors who want short-term, real-estate-backed yield without picking properties. ~10% historical returns, zero investor fees, and 6–18 month terms are excellent, but you're a lender, not an owner, so upside is capped and default risk is real.

1.0

RealT pioneered tokenized U.S. rental properties with weekly rent distributions, but the platform is now winding down. On July 2, 2026, RealT announced the voluntary liquidation of its U.S. structures. Weekly distributions are suspended, roughly 700 Detroit properties sit under a court-approved special fiduciary following the city's nuisance lawsuit, and sale proceeds go to repairs, taxes, and legal obligations before token holders see anything. A class action and a criminal complaint are underway in France. Do not buy RealTokens. Existing holders should document their positions and follow the liquidation process closely.

At a Glance

Groundfloor vs. RealT, Key Stats

$10 per loan ($100 account minimum)MinimumN/A: platform is in voluntary liquidation and was never open to U.S. investors

6–18 months (per loan term)Holding PeriodIndefinite: token holders are waiting on asset sales in a wind-down

Unavailable, capital locked until loan repaysEarly WithdrawalN/A: recovery depends on liquidation proceeds, not a withdrawal process

N/A, interest paid per loan terms (often deferred to maturity)Rent PayoutSuspended (historically weekly in stablecoins)

~10% historical averageAvg. ReturnsN/A: distributions suspended; advertised yields historically exceeded 10%, which the current outcome puts in perspective

Pros & Cons

What each platform does well and poorly

Zero investor fees
Groundfloor charges investors nothing, no AUM, no transaction fees, no closing costs. Borrowers pay 2–4.5% origination plus closing fees, so the entire interest yield flows to investors.
$10 per-loan minimum
Investors can spread $100 across ten loans, making real diversification accessible. Groundfloor's account minimum is $100 and individual loans go down to $10.
Short hold periods (6–18 months)
Most Groundfloor loans mature in 6–18 months, dramatically shorter than the 5–7 year holds typical of equity-style platforms, making it a useful complement to longer-duration real estate.
Transparent, A–G grading
Every loan is graded A–G with corresponding interest rates and risk factors. Loan documents, project details, and borrower track records are published before funding.
Capped upside
You're a lender. If a property doubles in value, you still only earn the interest rate on the loan. None of the appreciation upside flows to investors.
Lump-sum and deferred payouts
Many loans are deferred-payment, meaning interest accrues but isn't paid until the loan is fully repaid. That hurts compounding versus monthly- or daily-payout platforms.
Default risk is real
Groundfloor's reported default rate has historically been higher than peer platforms. Recoveries through foreclosure can take time and erode returns. The collateral is the property itself.
No early withdrawal
Once you fund a loan, capital is locked until the loan repays. There's no secondary market for Groundfloor LROs.

Proved global demand for tokenized rentals
RealT operated since 2019 and attracted thousands of investors worldwide to fractional U.S. rental properties, demonstrating real international appetite for tokenized real estate with frequent distributions.
Weekly distributions set the cadence benchmark
When operating, RealT distributed rent weekly in stablecoins, more frequently than the monthly or quarterly schedules used by most competitors.
Genuinely onchain ownership records
RealTokens live on public blockchains, which means holders retain independently verifiable records of their positions even with the platform in liquidation. That transparency is helping investors organize during the wind-down.
Public paper trail
The Detroit court proceedings, fiduciary agreement, and liquidation announcements are publicly documented, so token holders can follow the process through primary sources rather than platform statements alone.
Voluntary liquidation announced July 2026
On July 2, 2026, RealT announced the voluntary liquidation of its U.S. structures and the progressive sale of its entire property portfolio. The announcement reportedly came via a YouTube call rather than formal notice through a registered transfer agent. Roughly 14,000 French investors are affected according to counsel involved, alongside holders worldwide.
Detroit lawsuit and court-approved fiduciary
The City of Detroit initiated proceedings in July 2025 over code violations and tax arrears on roughly 408 properties. In April 2026 a court approved an agreement placing a special fiduciary in control of roughly 700 RealT Detroit properties, with authority to renovate, sell, or demolish. RealT still owes millions in unpaid taxes, and only a city motion prevented 300+ properties from going into foreclosure.
Weekly distributions suspended
Rent distributions to token holders are suspended, and RealT has said proceeds are being directed first to repairs, stabilization, and legal obligations. Yields historically advertised above 10% annualized are not being paid.
Class action and criminal complaint
A class action is underway in France and a criminal complaint has been filed with the financial division of the Paris judicial court. Former collaborators have publicly alleged that some marketed properties may never have been purchased, an allegation that, if proven, would be securities fraud.

Deep Dive

Detailed comparison

What You're Investing In

Three core products: Groundfloor Original (individual loans graded A–G), Stairs by Groundfloor (a savings-style product paying a steady rate), and Notes (short-duration debt instruments). All are real estate debt, no equity ownership.

Nothing. RealT is liquidating its portfolio and no new offerings are available.

Property Locations

Groundfloor lends in 45+ U.S. states, giving investors broad geographic diversification across one platform.

Primarily Detroit (roughly 83% of the portfolio), with Cleveland, Chicago, and Memphis exposure. The Detroit portfolio is under fiduciary control until at least the end of October 2026.

Expected Returns

Groundfloor's historical average return is approximately 10% per year. A diversified portfolio across all available loans has historically produced around 10.7% annualized. Loans pay between roughly 5.5% (A grade) and 25%+ (G grade), and investors earn the same rate the borrower pays. Capital not deployed within 45 days returns to the investor with no interest.

N/A. Distributions are suspended and future returns depend entirely on liquidation proceeds after repairs, taxes, fiduciary costs, and legal obligations. Historically advertised yields above 10% annualized should be read in light of that outcome: the highest advertised yields in the category came with the weakest underlying operations. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Fees

Zero investor fees. Borrowers pay 2–4.5% origination plus other closing fees, all visible inside the offering documents but not charged to investors.

Moot for new investors. For existing holders, fiduciary fees, escrow requirements, repair costs, and back taxes are effectively senior to token holder recoveries in the wind-down.

Liquidity

Holding period equals the loan term, typically 6–18 months. Investors can target shorter durations by buying into in-progress loans.

Indefinite. Token holders are waiting on a liquidation process with no published completion timeline.

Who Can Invest

Open to non-accredited and accredited U.S. investors. International investors can participate but must email support to fund accounts and meet a $5,000 minimum transfer.

No one. The platform was closed to U.S. persons under Regulation S, and with the July 2026 liquidation announcement it is effectively closed to new investment entirely.

The Verdict

Which is better, Groundfloor or RealT?

★ Our Pick

4.0

Groundfloor is one of the cleanest options in real estate crowdfunding. Zero investor fees, ~10% historical returns, short 6–18 month durations, and full transparency on every loan make it a strong fit for investors who want yield backed by real estate without picking properties or signing up for a 5+ year lock-up. The trade-off is real: you're a lender with capped upside and default exposure, not an owner with a stake in appreciation.

Full Groundfloor review →

1.0

RealT is not an investable platform. It is a wind-down. The July 2026 voluntary liquidation, suspended distributions, fiduciary-controlled Detroit portfolio, unpaid taxes, and pending litigation mean prospective buyers should stay away entirely, including from discounted RealTokens on decentralized exchanges. Existing holders should document positions, follow the Detroit docket and the French class action, and calibrate expectations to distressed liquidation values. Investors who came to RealT for tokenized rentals with frequent payouts should evaluate operators on the factors that failed here: property condition and tax compliance, platform financial health, and what happens to investors if the operator disappears. See how Lofty compares on those specific criteria.

Full RealT review →

Bottom Line

Groundfloor scores higher (4.0/5) and edges out RealT on our investment quality criteria.

Frequently Asked Questions

Groundfloor vs. RealT FAQ

Which is better, Groundfloor or RealT?

Based on our scoring criteria, returns, fees, liquidity, transparency, minimums, and track record, Groundfloor (4.0/5) scores higher than RealT (1.0/5). Groundfloor is a strong, transparent option for investors who want short-term, real-estate-backed yield without picking properties. ~10% historical returns, zero investor fees, and 6–18 month terms are excellent, but you're a lender, not an owner, so upside is capped and default risk is real.

What is the minimum investment for Groundfloor vs. RealT?

Groundfloor's minimum investment is $10 per loan ($100 account minimum). RealT's minimum investment is N/A: platform is in voluntary liquidation and was never open to U.S. investors.

How do Groundfloor and RealT compare on liquidity?

Groundfloor: Holding period equals the loan term, typically 6–18 months. Investors can target shorter durations by buying into in-progress loans. RealT: Indefinite. Token holders are waiting on a liquidation process with no published completion timeline.

What returns can investors expect from Groundfloor vs. RealT?

Groundfloor reports average yearly returns of ~10% historical average. RealT reports average yearly returns of N/A: distributions suspended; advertised yields historically exceeded 10%, which the current outcome puts in perspective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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Groundfloor vs. RealT 2026 Real Estate Investing Comparison

Groundfloor vs. RealT, Key Stats

What each platform does well and poorly

Detailed comparison

Which is better, Groundfloor or RealT?

Groundfloor vs. RealT FAQ

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