What is a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)?

   A REIT is a collective investment scheme constituted as a real estate investment trust that invests primarily in income-producing real    estate and real estate related assets and uses the income from the properties, net of expenses, to provide returns to its unitholders.    An investment in a REIT provides an opportunity for investors to pool their resources into a fund to enable the fund to acquire a    selected portfolio of investments primarily in real properties managed by qualified managers. ... more

A REIT is a corporation that combines capital from many investors to buy and operate income-producing real estate. It gives investors a low cost opportunity to include commercial real estate in an investment portfolio. Also, REITs avoid the "double taxation" treatment of income that would result from an investment in a corporation, because REITs do not pay taxes if certain standards are met, including the distribution of at least 90% of income that would otherwise be taxable. Hence, REITs are focused on generating and distributing income to their shareholders. ... more

A REIT is a company or trust that uses the pooled capital of many investors to purchase and manage a portfolio of real property assets, predominantly in income producing real estate. Such real estate, depending on the mandate of a REIT, could be solely or a combination of retail malls, offices, industrial properties, business parks, or other real estate assets. ... more

Real estate is a favorite among some investors. It provides many investment benefits and flexibility not found in other investments. There is one problem, though: it is not a small investment. For most folks, homeownership is the largest and only real estate investment they have. Yet many advisors suggest diversifying one's portfolio with assets other than stocks and bonds—like real estate. A REIT might be a way to add that diversification. ... more

Real Estate Investment Trust, or REIT, is a company that either owns and operates or finances income-producing real estate, such as apartment buildings and shopping malls. Created as investment vehicles by Congress in 1960, REITs are designed to offer both institutional and retail investors the chance to invest in large-scale commercial real estate projects. ... more