REITs offer investors the benefits of real estate investment along with the ease and advantages of investing in publicly traded stock. REITs have historically provided investors dividend-based income, competitive market performance, transparency, liquidity, inflation protection and portfolio diversification.

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Why Invest in REITs

The REIT approach to real estate investment offers a number of benefits to investment portfolios, including a history of competitive performance, liquidity, dividend-based income, diversification and transparency. REITs are total return investments. REITs are required by law to distribute each year to their shareholders at least 90% of their taxable income. Thus, REITs tend to historically be among those companies paying the highest dividends. The dividends come primarily from the relatively stable and predictable stream of contractual rents paid by the tenants who occupy the REIT's properties.

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How to Invest in a REIT

An individual may invest in a REIT, which is listed on a major stock exchange, by purchasing shares through a securities dealer. As with other publicly traded securities, investors may purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities. An investor can enlist the services of a broker, investment advisor or financial planner to help analyze his or her financial objectives. These professionals may be able to recommend appropriate REIT investments for the investor. Investors may also invest in a public non-listed or private REIT.

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REIT Directory

Investors can use our searchable REIT directory to learn more about the individual real estate companies that make up this more than $1 trillion industry. Investors can research earnings and performance metrics, explore real estate portfolio holdings and read news about each company.

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List of REIT Funds

Approximately 170 million Americans own REITs through their retirements savings and other investment funds. View our searchable list of REIT and real estate funds to learn more about the actively and passively managed investment opportunities. 

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Sustainability

Nareit’s mission is to actively advocate for REIT-based real estate investment with policymakers and the global investment community, which includes supporting the real estate community in the assessment, management, and disclosure of sustainability-related risks and opportunities. Nareit has had a long history of supporting sustainability programs on behalf of the REIT and publicly traded real estate industry.

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REIT Assets by State

With more than 580,000 properties owned by REITs in the U.S., you can find a REIT-owned property near you. REITs Across America is an interactive site highlighting REIT-owned assets in every state and major metropolitan area. 

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Global Real Estate

The real estate investment marketplace is changing around the world because of the widespread adoption of the REIT approach to real estate in 40 countries. REITs comprise 98% of the headline Real Estate sectors in the Global Industry Classification Standard. In addition to numerous active and passively managed domestic funds (both open- and closed-end), new global funds are increasingly popping up, offering an expanded range of investment opportunities.