CrowdStreet vs Equity Multiple 2025

Factor 1: Investor Requirements

We’ll begin our comparison by seeing what requirements real estate investors will need to meet if they want to take advantage of the available real estate deals.

Both real estate investment platforms double as a real estate crowdfunding platform, and both require investors to be accredited. However, the minimum investment requirements vary significantly, which may be the first major difference between the platforms.

CrowdStreet

In addition to being accredited, individual investors will want to have high risk tolerances if they decide to join CrowdStreet. Although passive income via dividends is likely, cash distributions are never guaranteed.

Exact minimums vary between the individual deals, but generally, you’ll need to be prepared to invest your money in a deal for at least three years. The absolute minimum investment is $25k, but you’ll also be responsible for applicable management fees.

We recommend consulting with your financial advisor before making this type of long-term commitment.

Equity Multiple

Equity Multiple has various real estate projects and real estate investments available, so the minimum investment requirement varies between each one. Depending on which type of investment you choose, the investment minimum could be as low as $5k or as high as $20k.

Your annual income from the investments should be enough to offset the asset management fees, but these are still something to consider as well.

Factor 2: Investment Opportunities

Now that we’ve gone over the requirements for these real estate platforms, let’s take a look at the specific real estate opportunities they offer. Diversification—both in assets and in the types of real estate investments you have—is essential to building a profitable real estate portfolio.

CrowdStreet

This platform hosts all of its individual deals in its online marketplace. Using the marketplace, you’ll be able to browse through their current deals throughout the real estate market. Property types include (but are not limited to): multifamily properties, retail properties, land, industrial properties, and office buildings.

CrowdStreet also offers the C-REIT, which uses the same commercial properties offered in the marketplace to create diversified funds for your investment portfolio.

Equity Multiple

Equity Multiple offers three different investment opportunities. Each one is structured as either a preferred equity, a debt, or a common equity. These opportunities are notes, direct investments, and pool investing.

Notes are short-term investments that run from 3-9 months. Direct investments run slightly longer, from as little as six months to as long as five years. Pool (Fund) investments are the longest option, lasting up to 10 years.

Factor 3: Liquidity

Neither one of these platforms offers genuine liquidity. Most real estate professionals will be prepared to hold onto their investments for the long term, but less-experienced investors may want to consult with investment advisors to ensure their risk tolerance is sufficient for the investment.

CrowdStreet

This platform offers zero liquidity, making it essential for investors to consult with their investment advisors before tying up their funds for years. As with any other type of investment, the potential returns are never guaranteed, making it all the more important to have diversified funds in your portfolio.
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Equity Multiple

Like CrowdStreet, Equity Multiple’s real estate investing options aren’t liquid. However, with notes, investors will benefit from a consistent—albeit small—cash flow. As these notes last no more than nine months, they are arguably more “liquid” than an investment through CrowdStreet.
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CrowdStreet vs Equity Multiple: Final Thoughts

Offering similar rates of return and similar services, which platform you opt to invest in ultimately comes down to your preferred time frame. If you’re planning on investing for the long term, CrowdStreet is an excellent option. Alternatively, Equity Multiple is great if you want to mix short and long-term investments, as well as experiment with different forms of real estate investing.

Either way, you can’t go wrong with CrowdStreet or Equity Multiple!