Importance of investing in REITs: A path to real estate without the hassle

Many people may think that venturing into real estate is either a pursuit that requires heavy investment, or is far from their reach. The thought of buying the houses, handling the tenants or even paying the maintenance and Management costs seems to be too much for a person who is new in this business of portfolio building.

A REIT is an investment company, formed under federal law, that can be joined by individual investors to earn rental income through owning shares in a property that has been made a trust. As opposed to real estate, wherein one physically owns a specific house; with REITs there are no ownership worries as these are collective investments. Investors generally invest money in a small portion of a real estate investment trust unit, and the returns paid out to them depend on how the properties acquired by the REIT perform.

One main reason to invest in REITs is to get passive income from dividends. These payments happen regularly and give a steady income source. For instance, if someone puts money into a REIT that owns office buildings, they can earn a part of the rent from the tenants in those buildings. A big plus of investing in REITs is that they provide diversification.

A single REIT can own several properties in different areas and industries, which helps spread out the risk. This way of diversifying gives stability and lowers the ups and downs often seen when investing in single real estate projects.

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REITs can be bought and sold on major stock exchanges just like any stock, unlike physical real estate that can take a long time to transact. This gives investors liquidity and flexibility. They can change their investments based on market changes or personal financial needs without dealing with the common issues that come with traditional real estate. As real estate markets grow and property values rise, REITs can gain from this, leading to an increase in their share value.

 REITs tend to perform well during times of inflation therefore, providing a hedge against inflation. In a world where real estate investment might seem out of reach for many, REITs break down the barriers, allowing anyone to tap into the potential of real estate markets.