B
enzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Most people associate real estate investing with massive commercial buildings, but the reality is that most landlords in the U.S. are everyday individuals owning just a few rental properties. In many areas, renters live in single-family homes rather than skyscrapers. This raises the question: if most rental properties are houses, why do investment platforms often focus on commercial buildings? The answer typically lies with money – most platforms cater to accredited investors with deep pockets.

    A new wave of real estate investing is challenging this status quo, led by a platform backed by Jeff Bezos called Arrived. It allows individuals to buy into actual rental homes for as little as $100. Arrived is designed for non-accredited investors who want to grow their money in real estate without needing hundreds of thousands in capital or the time and interest to become a landlord.

    The platform's big idea is simple: you invest in shares of individual rental properties, mostly single-family homes, earning passive income through rent and potential appreciation. What sets Arrived apart is that these are real, physical properties in actual neighborhoods – not funds or faceless REITs. Each share typically costs $10, and investors can buy in with as little as $100.

    Once a home is identified and purchased, Arrived sets it up under an LLC and breaks ownership into shares. The listing for each home includes detailed projections on rent, expenses, and the projected hold period (usually 5–7 years). After a home is fully funded by investors, Arrived handles everything else – managing the property, finding tenants, collecting rent, maintenance, and reporting performance.

    As an investor, you simply receive quarterly payouts from rental income – plus your share of any profits when the property is sold.