REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) are becoming a popular investment choice for individuals wishing to diversify their portfolios. It might be difficult for a novice to comprehend what REITs are, how they function, and how to invest in REITs. In this article, we will guide you through the fundamentals of REITs, including their benefits and drawbacks, and how to invest in them.
List of Contents
What Exactly Is a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)?
A real estate investment trust (REIT) is a firm that owns, manages, or funds real estate that generates revenue. Significantly, REITs are similar to mutual funds in that they combine the capital of several participants. This enables private investors to get profits from real estate investments without purchasing, managing, or financing properties themselves.
The Working Principles of REIT
Genuinely, Congress founded REITs as an amendment to the Cigar Excise Tax Extension in 1960. Previously, only affluent individuals and major financial intermediaries were able to purchase shares in commercial real estate portfolios. However, the provision now permits investors to do so. The examples of REIT’s properties portfolio are apartment complexes, data centers, healthcare facilities, hotels, infrastructure (fiber cables, cell towers, and energy pipelines), office buildings, retail centers, self-storage, timberland, and warehouses.
3 Types of Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)
1. Equity REITs
Most REITs are equity, which owns and operate real estate earning revenue. Rents are the primary source of revenue, not reselling properties.
2. Mortgage REITs
Mortgage REITs provide money to real estate owners and operators through mortgages and loans or indirectly through purchasing mortgage-backed securities. Their primary source of income is the net interest margin, which is the difference between the interest they make on home loans and the cost of funding these loans. This model makes them potentially susceptible to an increase in interest rates.
3. Hybrid REITs
These REITs employ both equity and mortgage REIT investing techniques.
How to Invest in REITs
You can purchase shares of publicly listed REITs, REIT mutual funds, and REIT exchange-traded funds (ETFs) through a broker. You can purchase non-traded REIT shares through a broker or financial advisor who participates in the offering. A rising number of defined-benefit and defined-contribution investment plans contain REITs. According to Nareit, a Washington, D.C.-based REIT research business, an estimated 145 million U.S. investors own REITs directly or indirectly via their retirement savings and other investment vehicles.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Investing in REIT
REITs can play a significant role in a diversified portfolio since they can provide a high, predictable yearly income and the possibility of long-term capital growth. The 20-year total return performance of REITs has exceeded that of the S&P 500 Index, other indexes, and inflation. As with any investment, REITs offer both benefits and drawbacks.
Benefits
✔ Excellent risk-adjusted returns
✔ Cash flow stability through dividends
✔ Good transparency
✔ Well liquidity
Drawbacks
✘ Contingent upon market risk
✘ Taxed dividends
✘ Low growth
✘ Has the possibility of substantial management and transaction fees
Conclusion
To summarize, investing in a real estate investment trust (REIT) is another good choice for investors. However, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) advises investors to be aware of anybody attempting to sell REITs without SEC registration. It suggests that you should check the registration of both publicly listed and non-traded REITs. You may also utilize EDGAR to analyze annual and quarterly reports and offer prospectuses for REITs. Furthermore, it is good to investigate the broker or financial counselor that suggests the REIT. Nevertheless, the SEC provides a free tool for determining if an investment practitioner is licensed and registered.
FAQs
REITs are obligated to return at least 90% of their taxable revenue to shareholders in the form of dividends, which can provide investors with tax advantages.
The minimum investment amount for a REIT can vary, depending on the type of REIT and the investment platform. It is important to learn about and comprehend the investment strategy and portfolio of a REIT, and to diversify your investment portfolio to reduce risk.
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Read more: Investing
Source: Investopedia