How Lofty Works

Start investing in minutes

Step 1

Browse properties

Explore 100+ rental properties across about 40 U.S. markets: single-family homes, multi-family, vacation rentals, and commercial. Every listing shows full financials, rent history, inspection reports, and photos.

Step 2

Deposit and buy

Click Deposit in your portfolio to transfer from your bank, or click Buy on any property and pay instantly with a credit card. Each property is held in its own LLC, and your shares are direct ownership in it.

Step 3

Earn daily, sell anytime

Rent lands in your account every day around midnight UTC. Withdraw it, reinvest it, or sell your shares on the 24/7 exchange at a price you choose.

Compare that to buying a rental yourself

1. 1. Start a property search
2. 2. Find a lender and get approved for a loan
3. 3. Determine investment value
4. 4. Make an offer and see if it gets accepted
5. 5. Pay a hefty down payment
6. 6. Close on the home
7. 7. Get homeowner’s insurance
8. 8. Make needed renovations
9. 9. List the home for rent
10. 10. Show the home to renters
11. 11. Screen potential tenants
12. 12. Sign a lease
13. 13. Safely store security deposits
14. 14. Manage property maintenance (yes, toilets too)
15. 15. Manage accounting
16. 16. Organize taxes every year

Two ways to earn

• Daily rental income. Your share of the rent is paid every day around midnight UTC. Withdraw it anytime or reinvest it to compound.
• Trading gains. Share prices move with the market, and you can sell anytime, at any price you choose. When your shares are worth more than you paid, that gain is yours. Example: buy shares of a vacation rental in the offseason, when lower revenue drags prices down, then sell into peak season demand. The world’s first real estate exchange is full of opportunities like this. The exchange isn’t the only way to realize appreciation, either: owners can vote to sell the whole property, and the original seller can propose buying back shares at a set price. If owners vote yes, everyone cashes in on the gain together.

Two ways to trade

• Market orders. Buy or sell right away at the best available price. Includes a 2.5% fee paid to market makers for instant execution.
• Limit orders. Place an order at the price you want. It fills when another investor matches it.

Lofty by the numbers

*Marketplace average as of May 2026. Returns vary by property.

What investors say

Lofty holds a 4.7★ rating on Google. Here’s what real investors say:

Read hundreds more on the Lofty reviews page.

How Lofty compares

See side-by-side breakdowns of 18+ platforms on the comparison pages.

Where the properties come from

Properties on Lofty are listed by third-party owners: individuals and companies who sell a portion of their equity to investors instead of refinancing or selling outright. It’s a co-ownership model that keeps incentives aligned: sellers must keep at least 10% of the property’s equity, so they have skin in the game right alongside investors, and both sides communicate directly in the property’s Discord channel.

1. 1. Seller submits the property. Every seller passes a background check, and the property gets an inspection, an appraisal, and due diligence materials published for investors.
2. 2. Seller sets the terms. They choose how much equity to sell, up to 90%, and at what price. Many keep managing the property themselves.
3. 3. Investors buy in. Shares go live on the marketplace, and the seller gets paid as investors buy.

Own a property? List it on Lofty.

Real ownership, real votes

Your shares are direct ownership in the LLC that holds each property, not a fund or a loan. That comes with a vote:

• Voting power matches ownership. Own 10% of a property’s shares and you have 10% of the vote.
• No investor can own more than 15% of a property’s shares, which keeps voting fair.
• After your first purchase, a short survey sets your management preferences: rent amounts, eviction timing, repairs, and more.
• Votes cover major repairs, rent changes, whether to sell, and other key decisions. For some votes, you can defer to the property manager’s recommendation based on the preferences you set in your initial survey.
• Propose a vote by emailing [email protected]. Once a vote is decided, the same or similar proposal waits 90 days unless it changes materially, like the same manager proposed at a 5% fee instead of 15%.

Property management, handled

Properties on Lofty are managed by independent, third-party property management companies:

• Each property page names the manager responsible for day-to-day operations: sourcing tenants, collecting rent, and coordinating repairs.
• In some cases the original owner keeps managing the property while selling a portion of their equity to investors.
• If an update or issue arises, owners receive an email from the property manager with the details.
• Every property has its own Discord channel where you can chat live with the property manager and the co-owners who listed the property, and decide together what’s best for it.
• Every property manager has ratings and reviews based on the properties they manage. Click their profile on any property page to read them, or filter the marketplace by property manager.
• Not happy with a manager? Owners can vote to replace them at any time.

Easy deposits, easy withdrawals

• Deposits. Click Deposit in your portfolio to transfer from your bank, or pay instantly with a credit card when you buy.
• Your cash balance. Rent lands in your account every day, ready to reinvest or withdraw.
• Withdrawals. Send your balance back to your bank anytime. No lock-ups, no penalties.

Taxes made simple

• One pre-filled 1099 per property. Lofty files it with the IRS and sends you a copy. You only carry a few fields over to your Form 1040.
• Rental income is taxed as ordinary income. Standard capital gains taxes apply when you sell shares for a gain.
• Owners also benefit from depreciation.
• Non-US investors: withholding taxes apply on gains and rent withdrawals. If your country has a tax treaty with the US and you have an SSN or ITIN, send a completed Form W-8BEN (individuals) or Form W-8BEN-E (entities) to [email protected] as separate attachments before you withdraw or sell.

Always consult your own accountant for your situation.

Frequently asked questions

Who can invest on Lofty?

Anyone, both US and international investors, except residents of sanctioned countries. You must be 18 or older and complete identity verification.

How much can I invest?

You can start with a single share, and many shares cost around $50 or less. There is no cap on your total portfolio. The only limit is per property: no investor can own more than 15% of a single property’s shares, which keeps voting fair.

What am I actually buying?

Each property on Lofty is held in its own LLC. When you buy shares, you become a fractional member of that LLC, with rights to your share of the rental income, the ability to sell your shares on the exchange anytime, and votes on key property decisions.

What is the difference between market orders and limit orders?

Market orders execute instantly at the best available price and include a 2.5% fee paid to market makers for instant execution. Limit orders let you set your own price and fill when another investor matches it.

Will I have any responsibilities for managing the properties?

Yes, as an owner you vote on decisions for the property, like major repairs, rent changes, and whether to sell. You can also discuss proposals and the property itself in that property’s Discord channel. The day-to-day work, like tenants, maintenance, and rent collection, is handled by the property manager.

How do I earn returns?

Two ways: rental income paid every day around midnight UTC, and appreciation. You can sell shares on the exchange anytime at a price you choose, and appreciation can also be realized when owners vote to sell the property or approve a buyback offer from the original seller. As of May 2026 the marketplace average rental yield is 9.2%. Returns vary by property and past performance does not guarantee future results.

Can I sell my investment early?

Yes. There is no minimum holding period. List your shares on the 24/7 exchange at any time, at any price you choose. No redemption windows, no sponsor approvals, no early withdrawal penalties.

What fees does Lofty charge?

A 2.5% fee on share purchases and a 3% fee on share sales. No AUM fees, no upfront fees, no property management fees billed directly to investors, and no early withdrawal penalties.

How do taxes work?

You receive one pre-filled 1099 per property. Lofty files it with the IRS and sends you a copy, so you only carry a few fields over to your Form 1040. Rental income is taxed as ordinary income, capital gains taxes apply when you sell shares for a gain, and owners benefit from depreciation. Non-US investors may be subject to withholding taxes unless they qualify under a tax treaty. Always consult your own accountant.

What happens to my investment if Lofty goes out of business?

You would not lose your investment. Your shares represent legal ownership in the LLC that owns each property, and every LLC exists as a separate legal entity for property holding, tax, accounting, liability, and ownership purposes. Regardless of what happens to Lofty, each property’s LLC and your ownership in it remain independent and intact.

Ready to start?

1. 1. Create your free account. Sign up with your email. Takes about a minute.
2. 2. Verify your identity. A quick one-time check that unlocks investing.
3. 3. Deposit funds. Transfer from your bank, or skip this and pay by credit card at checkout.
4. 4. Buy your first shares. Pick a property. Rent starts the day you own shares.

Get started freeBrowse properties

Still have questions? Reach the team anytime at [email protected].