The real estate investing landscape has never been more accessible to everyday investors. Platforms like Groundfloor and Realbricks have lowered the barriers to entry, offering innovative ways to participate in the real estate market without needing to buy an entire property. While both cater to non-accredited and accredited investors alike, they differ significantly in their investment structures, return profiles, and risk considerations. This comparison explores those differences in detail so you can determine which aligns best with your goals.
One of the biggest distinctions between Groundfloor and Realbricks lies in their fundamental approach to real estate investing.
Groundfloor operates on a debt-based model, offering short-term, first-lien loans to real estate developers, often for fix-and-flip or new construction projects. Investors are essentially lending money to these developers and earning interest in return. The loans are typically secured by the underlying property, which helps mitigate risk but doesn’t eliminate it. Your returns are based on the interest paid by borrowers, not the performance of the real estate market.
Realbricks, on the other hand, uses an equity-based model. Investors buy shares of individual long-term rental properties—currently in Omaha, NE, with expansion underway. Importantly, all properties in the Realbricks portfolio are purchased outright in cash and are debt-free, which means they aren’t impacted by mortgage interest fluctuations. This debt-free model provides stability, effectively shielding investors from rising interest rates and keeping income streams more predictable. As a shareholder, you also benefit from rental income (paid quarterly) and any property appreciation.
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Groundfloor advertises historical net annualized returns of around 9–10% through its diversified Flywheel Portfolio or individual loan selections. Returns are driven solely by loan interest when using the Flywheel option. Loan terms typically range from 6–18 months, and returns are fixed based on the agreed interest rate, assuming no default.
Realbricks offers an estimated 6% dividend yield, paid quarterly and derived purely from rental income. As equity owners of individual rental properties, investors also stand to benefit from potential appreciation when property values rise. Notably, recent performance has exceeded their baseline estimates—Realbricks delivered 2.25% in Q4 2024, annualizing to 9%, and 2.00% in both Q1 and Q2 2025 (≈8% annualized), demonstrating their capability to outperform their own projections and deliver upside in favorable conditions.
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Groundfloor’s primary risk is borrower default. While the loans are secured by real estate, foreclosure and recovery can take time, and investors may not get all their money back in a worst-case scenario. That said, the platform has historically maintained a low loss rate of under 1%, aided by first-lien positioning and conservative underwriting.
Realbricks’ risk is tied to the performance of the rental property—vacancies and weak local markets can impact income and appreciation. That said, Realbricks focuses exclusively on long-term rental homes in stable and high-demand markets, like Omaha. In fact, U.S. News recently ranked the Omaha metro area as the hottest housing market in the U.S., reflecting strong demand and low vacancy levels. This resilience underpins more reliable rental income and helps cushion investors from volatility.
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Both platforms are open to non-accredited investors, but their liquidity options differ.
Groundfloor investments are tied to loan maturity. If you invest in a 12-month loan, your funds are locked until the loan is repaid — there is no secondary market to sell early. This makes it less liquid, but loan terms are relatively short.
Realbricks requires a $100 minimum (10 shares at $10 each). Shares can be sold on Realbricks’ peer-to-peer secondary market, but only after the property has moved from the initial offering to the secondary market. This creates an opportunity for liquidity for Realbricks investors.
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Groundfloor does not charge direct fees to investors. Instead, it earns revenue by charging borrowers origination and servicing fees, plus a small embedded servicing spread (~0.25%) on loan repayments.
Realbricks charges:
For a more in depth analysis of Realbricks' fee structure, please read this article here.
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If you want fixed-income style returns from short-term real estate loans and don’t mind your capital being tied up until the loan matures, Groundfloor offers a unique and accessible debt-based approach with historical returns in the 9–10% range.
If you prefer equity ownership, quarterly dividends, and the ability to participate in property appreciation, Realbricks provides a straightforward path into real estate ownership with a low $100 minimum and the option for liquidity via a secondary market.
Disclaimer: Investing in real estate involves risks, including the potential loss of capital. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Investors should perform their own research and consult with financial professionals before making investment decisions.
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