As housing prices and borrowing costs continue to outpace wage growth, millions of American renters are finding homeownership increasingly out of reach. An Atlanta based real estate investment fund, Roots, is expanding nationwide with Wealth Building Rewards™, a financial wellness and investment platform designed to help renters build savings, improve credit, and gain early exposure to real estate ownership while renting.
Founded in 2021, Roots has helped renters save and invest more than $1.61 million to date. With its national rollout, Wealth Building Rewards is now available to renters across the United States for $10 per month or $99 per year.
The expansion comes amid growing concerns about homeownership affordability and wealth inequality. Home prices are up nearly 50 percent since 2019, while the median net worth of homeowners is estimated to be roughly 40 times greater than that of renters. The average renting household, by contrast, has less than $650 in savings.
Traditionally, renting has been viewed as a financial dead end, with monthly payments building no equity and leaving households vulnerable to rising costs. Roots aims to challenge that model by allowing renters to earn Investable Rewards™ that can be invested into real estate and other financial wellness tools.
“Homeownership has long been the primary driver of generational wealth in this country, but many renters are now locked out of its benefits,” said Daniel Dorfman, Co-Founder and CEO of Roots. “Wealth Building Rewards puts renters at the center of the housing economy, giving them a real stake in real estate today and serving as a launchpad for future homeownership.”
The platform is built around three core pillars: financial education, credit building and monitoring, and savings and investing. Through a single, integrated membership, renters earn rewards by engaging with practical financial education, from budgeting fundamentals and debt elimination strategies to mindset and tools for long term wealth building. Members automatically build credit through positive payment behavior and gain access to credit goal setting, monitoring, coaching, and AI driven recommendations, alongside masterclasses and town halls designed to be accessible for all renters.
Members receive $100 in Investable Rewards immediately upon joining and can unlock hundreds more annually through continued engagement with financial wellness tools. According to the company, members can see credit score improvements of 40 to 80 points within the first 12 months. The Investable Rewards can be invested in the Roots Fund, which has delivered 12%+ average annual returns since its launch.
“They truly care about me earning my rewards,” said Diana P., a Roots renter. “Roots helped me save money and invest in real estate while renting, putting me on a real path to homeownership.”
As policymakers, employers, and housing advocates search for ways to address affordability, Roots’ expansion signals growing interest in hybrid models that blend renting, investing, and financial wellness. For millions of Americans, wealth building may need to begin long before the keys to a first home are handed over.
Maggie Reyes
Roots Investment Community
+1 770-710-3815
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