For Niles Lichtenstein, homeownership has always been more than a financial investment; it’s a means of resilience and connection. Growing up in Berkeley with his mother, an immigrant navigating financial challenges after his father’s passing, Lichtenstein experienced firsthand how homeownership provided stability and a path to growth. “At an early age, 13, I learned how to help refinance a property, take some equity out,” he recalls, sharing that his family even rented out rooms to international students from UC Berkeley to make ends meet. These experiences would later become the foundation of his vision for Nestment.

From Tech Ventures to a Passion for Co-Buying

Nestment isn’t Lichtenstein’s first venture into startups, but it’s his most personal. After successful stints in mobile technology and launching a New York Times-backed platform, he found himself drawn back to real estate. “I wanted to find a way to bring people together to build wealth,” he explains. What started as an informal effort to co-buy properties with friends and family quickly evolved. Seeing the benefits of shared ownership firsthand, he recognized the need for a structured platform to facilitate co-buying—a venture that would later become Nestment.

Tackling Modern Real Estate Challenges

Nestment arrives at a pivotal moment. Millennials and Gen Z, faced with skyrocketing home prices and stagnant wages, are increasingly priced out of traditional homeownership. Lichtenstein explains, “For four decades now, we’ve had price appreciation but wage stagnation. So, you know, it’s not the same for millennials and Gen Z in terms of home ownership.” Nestment offers a solution: Enabling co-buying allows groups to pool resources, share the investment, and access ownership opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.

How Nestment Works: Simplifying the Path to Shared Ownership

Nestment provides clients with all the tools needed to make co-buying seamless. From initial consultations to financial projections, legal templates, and partnerships with lenders and agents, Nestment covers each step of the process. “We’ve built a system that takes the guesswork out of co-buying,” Lichtenstein says. Users can input potential property listings, receive financial insights, and even access community resources that make shared ownership easier and more accessible.

A Growing Movement in Co-Buying

More than just a platform, Nestment fosters a community. Through workshops and partnerships with trusted lenders and agents, Nestment aims to create a movement around co-buying. “We’re not just helping people buy homes—we’re building connections,” Lichtenstein explains. The company’s workshops, which regularly sell out, educate participants on the advantages of shared ownership while building a network of like-minded buyers.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Nestment

Nestment’s vision extends beyond just the purchase. Plans are underway to introduce tools for managing properties, including financial forecasts and equity-building insights. “Our goal is to be there with you through purchase, management, and exit for you and that group,” says Lichtenstein. As Nestment grows, Lichtenstein envisions a future where shared ownership isn’t just an option but a popular, accessible pathway to wealth-building.

Nestment reflects a shift in real estate, one that prioritizes community, shared resources, and accessibility. As Lichtenstein puts it, “We’re giving people a way to build wealth together.” By redefining what it means to own a home, Nestment isn’t just responding to market trends—it’s creating a new standard for what ownership can look like in today’s world.

This article has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.