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Homeownership has long been a cornerstone of the American dream. It symbolizes independence, financial security and prosperity — but is it a dream worth chasing?
Real estate investment guru Grant Cardone seems conflicted. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Cardone said, “The average mortgage today is double the rent in America (1).”
He went on to say that you’d have to be “crazy” to buy a home.
“Buying a home without a doubt is the worst investment people can make, yet it’s also the most common one,” he wrote on Instagram back in 2024 (2).
More recently, however, Cardone has spoken out in support of President Donald Trump’s proposal to legalize 50-year mortgages.
In a post on Truth Social in November (3), Trump posted a photo of himself with the text “50-year mortgage” next to a picture of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the text “30-year mortgage,” under the headline “Great American Presidents,” equating implementation of the 30-year mortgage in the 1930s under Roosevelt’s New Deal to the creation of a 50-year mortgage during his presidency.
Cardone seemingly approved of the 50-year mortgage proposal on his X account, writing, “Major Real Estate Opportunity COMING (4).”
So is buying a home to live in yourself still a good financial move?
“A $576,000 home will have to be sold for $1.2 million in 10 years,” Cardone said on Instagram. “You’re not going to sell it for that, to break even.”
He described the exercise as “dead money” — a term used for an investment that has shown little increase in value or is locked up for a long time with little yield.
Cardone, instead, typically prefers real estate investments that aren’t tied to your own living situation.
If you’re keen on getting into the real estate game but agree that renting the space you live in is the smarter financial move, crowdfunding platforms — a process championed by Cardone — allow everyday investors to pool their money to purchase property (or a share of property) as a group.
Here’s what you should know if you’re looking for an opportunity to invest in property without owning your own home.
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Many Americans who rent their homes feel that they can’t afford a down payment to buy their own property — much less an investment property to rent. In fact, a CNN poll found that 86% of American renters would like to buy a home, but can’t afford one (5).
This can leave many feeling like they’re missing out on a vital investment diversification strategy, but the crowdfunding platforms Cardone champions offer a way around it, even for those without a massive down payment available.
If you aren’t ready to jump into home ownership (financially or otherwise), there are platforms like Arrived that let you buy stakes in rental properties, earn dividends and skip the responsibilities of property management.
Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived’s easy-to-use platform offers SEC-qualified investments such as rental homes and vacation rentals for as little as $100. Their flexible investment options allow both accredited and non-accredited investors to benefit from this inflation-hedging asset class with ease. You start by browsing vetted properties, then simply select a property and choose the number of shares to buy.
Another option to consider is Mogul, a real estate investment platform offering fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties. Mogul gives high-net-worth investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits — minus the late-night tenant calls.
Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, the team hand-picks the top 1% of single-family rental homes nationwide for you. Simply put, Mogul lets you invest in institutional-quality offerings for a fraction of the usual cost.
Each property undergoes a vetting process, requiring a minimum 12% return even in downside scenarios. Offerings often sell out in under three hours, with investments typically ranging between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.
To get started, just sign up for an account and browse available properties. Once you verify your information with their team, you’re ready to invest like a mogul.
Investing in necessity-based real estate is another way to grow your money over time.
Commercial real estate has long been touted as a wise investment for adding stability to your portfolio, outperforming the S&P 500 over a 25-year period.
First National Realty Partners (FNRP) provides accredited investors access to institutional-quality commercial real estate investments. Requiring a minimum investment of $50,000, FNRP lets you benefit from investing in commercial properties without the hassle of being a landlord.
As a private equity firm, FNRP acts as the deal leader and offers white-glove service to investors, providing expertise and doing the time-intensive legwork for you. The team has developed relationships with the nation’s largest essential-needs brands, including Kroger, Walmart and Whole Foods — providing insights into the best properties both on and off-market.
Engage with experts, explore available deals and easily make an allocation, all on FNRP’s secure platform.
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