Would you like to invest in real estate? To buy thousands of income-producing properties, from apartments to office buildings to industrial parks, all over the country or the world? It you’re wealthy, you might dispatch someone to travel far and wide and do just that, but even if you’re not rich you can participate. The tool that enables this is a Real Estate Investment Trust, or REIT.
What is a REIT?
A REIT uses its investors’ money to buy or finance real estate that produces income. It’s an investment in property rather than stocks or bonds. The profit it earns from leases and rents is distributed to investors. By law REITs must pay out 90 percent of this income to the shareholders, but 100 percent is more common.
Most REITS are Equity REITs, which directly own property. Mortgage REITs are indirect, investing in mortgages and mortgage-backed securities. Most REITs are publicly traded and listed on national exchanges. Some are private; these generally require a larger minimum investment.
REIT holdings include residential buildings, office space, industrial facilities, shopping centers, hotels, storage facilities and even data centers. A REIT may invest in one of these asset types or a mix of many.
There are also mutual funds that invest in REITs. Some are actively managed and others are Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) that buy all REITs, or all REITs in specific categories, without trying to pick winners.
Are REITs a good investment?
REITs offer the benefits of owning rental property without the headaches, homework and personal risk. If you want to buy, say, an apartment building, you must evaluate the property, arrange financing, find renters, deal with tenants and building maintenance on a day-to-day basis and handle the accounting and taxes. If your investment turns sour you’re in for a big loss. With REITs, professionals do that work, and if one property loses money it’s offset by those that do well. Also, you can put as much or as little at risk as you want in a REIT. You can buy a small number of shares for a few thousand or even a few hundred dollars.
Historically, REITs have outperformed most other investments long-term. Average returns for the last 10, 20, 30 and 40 years have been comfortably over 10%. However, REITs are subject to the ups and downs of real estate and can be a loser in the short run. Generally the best time to buy a REIT is when the real estate market is at the bottom as opposed to when it’s nearing a crest. Of course, it’s difficult to know exactly when that is, so dollar cost averaging, i.e., buying regularly over time, is a good strategy.
REITs tend not to move up and down in lockstep with stocks and bonds, so they can have a balancing effect in a portfolio. Few would recommend making REITs the major part of your holdings, but they can be an important component of your investment strategy.
For more information about Real Estate Investment Trusts: How to Start, Visit our website.
Table of Contents of Main Site
Sell
Featured
About
Social Platforms
Blogspot — Search For New Home
Tumblr— Mortgage Deal
Wix — Ambitious House Seller
Weebly - Vocation Home
Webnode - Start A Home
Bookmark - Purchasing Vacation Home
Strikingly - House Seller
Site123 - Search To Your Budget
Webs - Swimming Pool Area
Joomla - Furniture Built In
Yola - Install Skylights
Jimdo - Cubby Bookshelf
Table of Contents
Things You Need to be Pre-Approved for a Mortgage
Which Moving Company Should You Use?
What to Look for in a Foreclosure Deal
What Does That Mean – Mortgage Type
Mortgage Loan Rejection: What Next?
Pennywise Moves for Retirees
How to use Natural Lighting to Enhance Your New Home
5 Factors to Consider Before Purchasing a Vacation Home
5 Tips for Families Living on One Income
Tips for Dealing With a Debt Collector
Advantages of Using Furniture Pads When You Move
First Time Home Buyers’ Incentives
Get Rid of Dark Spaces
Some Compelling Reasons to Start a Home Garden
Thinking Outside the Box Lamp
Novice Moving Day Mistakes and Expert Solutions
Should You Install Skylights?
Are You an Ambitious House Seller?
Prepare for a Home Search
Apps for Monitoring Your Energy Use
Pick Up a Smart House Device Without Breaking Your Budget
Why You Should Be Cautious About Home Size
Should You Buy A Home Outside Of Your Budget?
Things You Need to Consider Before You Host a House Showing
Reasons to Tailor Your Home Search to Your Budget
How To Make Flat-Pack Furniture Seem Built In
Tips on Creating a Luxurious Indoor Swimming Pool Area
Key Reasons to Trust a Home Inspection Report
Execute a House Selling Plan
Common Home Selling Problems and How to Avoid Them
Tips to Remember When Staging Your Home to Sell
Step-by-Step: Creating a Cubby Bookshelf
3 Reasons to Buy a Small Town Home
Use Vertical Space as a Storage Solution
What Should You Do If You Suspect Identity Theft
Financial Planning: What is the Estate Tax?
Aromatherapy for a Mood-Lifting Home Environment
Amazing Indoor Water Feature Ideas
How to Remove Old Carpet
Green Features: What Buyers Are Looking For
How to Make a Good Impression on Home Buyers
Real Estate Investment Trusts: How to Start
Cost-Effecting Ways of Staging Your Home to Sell
Commercial Real Estate Illinois Table of Contents
How Corona Pandemic (Covid-19) Affects Commercial Real Estate Market
Residential And Commercial Real Estate Now Listed As Essential Service – March 28 5:30 P.M.