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The median sales price for an American home hit $410,800 as of July 2025. Meanwhile, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that as of 2024, median household income had only just recovered to 2019 levels. So, as the cost to buy a home soars, the average family’s income remains stagnant or even declines.
Chief Investment Officer Matt Birenbaum of AvalonBay Communities (AVB), a real-estate investment trust, explained in 2024, “We think we’re really in the early stages of what could be a pretty significant, almost new, investment class.”
But the opportunity to partake isn’t limited to institutional investors — here are a few ways everyday investors can capitalize on this growing trend.
The build-to-rent model is redefining housing development as we know it across America. Developers are increasingly constructing neighbourhoods of single-family homes with the sole intent to lease them, rather than sell them.
In late 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau reported the share of build-to-rent homes had doubled since 2021, reflecting 10% of all new homes. While that may still seem like a relatively small slice of the full pie, the Wall Street Journal found that major investors are tapping in with hopes the figure will grow. Their research spotlighted several major players including Blackstone (BX), Invitation Homes (INVH) and Pretium Partners (PVG) who are actively investing in this market.
If you want to jump into the real estate investment game, there are a number of platforms available to help.
Mogul is a real estate investment platform offering fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties, which gives investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits — without the need for a hefty down payment or 3 A.M. 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, you can 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. Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Their cash-on-cash yields, meanwhile, average between 10 to 12% annually. Offerings often sell out in under three hours, with investments typically ranging between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.
Every investment is secured by real assets, not dependent on the platform’s viability. Each property is held in a standalone Propco LLC, so investors own the property — not the platform. Blockchain-based fractionalization adds a layer of safety, ensuring a permanent, verifiable record of each stake.
Getting started is a quick and easy process. You can sign up for an account and then browse available properties. Once you verify your information with their team, you can invest like a mogul in just a few clicks.
For those who prefer accessible fractional investing, Arrived — an online platform backed by prominent investors like Jeff Bezos — offers retail investors the opportunity to buy shares in existing rental and vacation homes. You can get your foot into the real estate market without buying property outright, while taking advantage of the growing demand for rental investment opportunities.
Arrived allows you to browse through their curated selection of homes, each vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, you can choose the number of shares you want to buy and start investing with as little as $100.
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This trend isn’t only confined to residential properties. The rising popularity of rental investments extends into the commercial property market as well. It’s also happening all over North America.
This summer, Western Residential analyzed Canada’s largest commercial real estate markets and found developers had shifted focus toward purpose-built rental construction, sometimes at the expense of new residential condominiums and commercial buildings.
A recent report from Cushman & Wakefield also commented, “for the first time in years, the retail market is at a point of being supply-constrained — at least for space in quality shopping centers.”
With both commercial and residential supply constrained, rental prices could be pushed higher, creating attractive returns for investors.
First National Realty Partners (FNRP) offers accredited investors access to these types of promising retail-anchored real estate investments, without the legwork of finding deals yourself.
The FNRP team has developed relationships with shopping centers and health-care facilities across the U.S., as well as the nation’s largest essential-needs brands, including Kroger, Walmart and Whole Foods.
They also offer white-glove service for investors, providing key market insights and finding the best properties both on and off-market, while investors can passively collect distribution income.
You can engage with experts, explore available deals and easily make an allocation, all in one personalized secure portal.
The affordability crisis in housing isn’t only exacerbated by rising prices and a supply shortage. Elevated mortgage rates also make homeownership a challenge. As of November 6, 2025, the average 30-year mortgage rate is hovering at 6.22% — not far from its five-year high of 7.9% in October 2023.
Adding fuel to fire are claims, such as those made by WSJ, the Federal Reserve is likely cut rates only twice next year, according to a report from The Associated Press.
Nonetheless, some Americans will simply prefer or need to buy a home. Many will also still be paying off their mortgage, and perhaps unable to consider other investment opportunities at this time.
Both can benefit from shopping around for a more competitive rate. 2023 research from LendingTree found that doing so can save borrowers over $76,000 throughout the loan’s lifetime.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
