# Six Real Estate Investment Paths for Different Budgets
Real estate investing doesn't require $500,000 to start. You can enter the market with anywhere from $10 to $100,000, depending on the strategy you choose.
The article outlines six concrete approaches. For investors with smaller budgets, crowdfunding platforms like Fundrise and RealtyMogul pool money from multiple investors into commercial and residential projects. Minimum investments typically run $500 to $5,000. You earn returns through dividends without managing tenants or repairs.
REITs, or Real Estate Investment Trusts, offer another accessible entry point. You can buy shares through any brokerage account like Fidelity or Charles Schwab. A REIT invests in apartment complexes, malls, or data centers. Your minimum investment equals one share, sometimes under $50. REITs trade like stocks and pay quarterly dividends.
With $10,000 to $50,000, you can buy shares in private syndications. Experienced operators compile these deals, and your capital funds their acquisitions. You're essentially partnering without active management duties.
House hacking works for those ready for hands-on landlording. Buy a duplex or fourplex, live in one unit, and rent the others. Your tenants' payments cover your mortgage. First-time home buyer programs can lower your down payment to 3 percent.
Wholesaling requires minimal capital but demands work. You find undervalued properties, get them under contract, and sell the contract to a cash buyer for profit. This strategy generates cash without long-term ownership.
Hard money lending puts your cash into short-term loans backed by real estate. Investors borrowing for rehab projects pay you 10 to 15 percent annual returns. You lend directly or through platforms like