1018 Nassau St., Durham. It’s one of the houses that Groundly listed as part of a ground-lease concept. After multiple price changes, the house was relisted, with no ground lease, for $525,000 in May.

Less than a year ago, a little-known New York-based real estate startup launched in the Triangle. Called Groundly, it was piloting a land-lease program that listed properties — ranging from $514,000 ...