A comprehensive guide to investing in real estate investment trusts (REITs)

Are you considering investing in real estate but need help determining where to begin? Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) offer an increasingly popular opportunity among investors. They combine the benefits of strong potential returns with various options, making them accessible and attractive to all investors. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take a look at REITs and how they can be used to achieve your investment objectives.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned investor, there’s something in this guide for everyone – from learning about the different types of REITs available to understanding the tax implications associated with investing in them. So, let’s get started.

What are REITs and how do they work?

A Real Estate Investment Trust, or REIT, is an entity that owns and operates income-producing real estate properties. The properties can span different investments, including office buildings, apartment complexes, storage units, hotels, shopping centres, etc. REITs are designed to provide investors with a steady income stream from their investments in the form of dividends. They also offer the potential for appreciation over time and diversification benefits since they correlate less to other asset classes like stocks and bonds.

Real estate investment trusts fall into two categories: public non-traded REITs (PNTRs) and publicly traded REITs (PTRs). Publicly traded REITs are bought and sold on exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange. In contrast, public non-traded REITs are not publicly traded and are offered to investors directly through private offerings.

Benefits of investing in real estate investment trusts

REITs offer many advantages for investors. Because they own numerous properties, they provide diversification benefits you can’t get from owning a single property. Additionally, since their dividend payments come from the rental income generated by their properties, the income is relatively predictable and less volatile than investments like stocks or bonds. Other benefits include:

Tax Benefits: Dividends paid out by REITs are taxed more favourably than other types of investment income, which can result in a higher after-tax return for investors.

Professional Management: REITs are managed by professional real estate managers with the experience and expertise needed to maximise investment returns. It can significantly benefit those who want to avoid managing a property.

Liquidity: Publicly traded REITs offer the benefit of liquidity since they can be bought and sold on exchanges like stocks. It makes it easy for investors to access their money when needed.

Risks of investing in real estate investment trusts

Like any investment, some risks are associated with investing in real estate investment trusts. One of the most significant risks is that changes in market conditions or tenant turnover can result in lower rental income, which could lead to decreased dividend payments.

Additionally, since publicly traded REITs are bought and sold on exchanges, they are subject to price volatility, making them riskier than other types of investments. Finally, since the management team is responsible for making decisions about the properties, their performance can directly impact your investment returns.

How to invest in real estate investment trusts

There are several options available for investing in real estate investment trusts. For those who want access to the stock exchange, publicly traded REITs are an easy way to get exposure to the real estate market without managing property directly or worrying about tenant issues. These REITs trade like stocks, allowing investors to buy and sell them quickly.

For those looking for a more hands-on approach, public non-traded REITs offer the opportunity to invest directly in specific properties or portfolios of properties. These REITs are private offerings that allow investors to purchase shares directly from the company and have the potential to provide higher returns than publicly traded REITs since they are not subject to stock market fluctuations.

Finally, some investors can take advantage of tax benefits by investing in a self-directed IRA, which allows you to use pre-tax money to invest in various real estate investments, including REITs. However, it is essential to note that these accounts come with their restrictions and fees, so it is vital to speak to a financial advisor before making any investments.

Alternatives to REITs

For those interested in real estate but not interested in investing in REITs, there are alternatives. You may prefer investing in equities – individual stocks from real estate developer companies, construction companies, and architecture firms. You may also be keen to learn Bitcoin trading – although it sounds removed from the world of real estate, there are in fact more and more cryptocurrencies venturing into the REIT space. Bitcoin, for one, has recently been accepted as a form of payment for shares with a partnership called BitPay, which enables investors to convert crypto into real estate.

Conclusion

Real estate investment trusts offer investors the opportunity to gain exposure to the real estate market without managing property directly or worrying about tenant issues. While some risks are associated with investing in REITs, they can be attractive for those looking for diversification and relatively predictable income streams.

Additionally, several options are available for investing in these types of investments, including publicly-traded REITs, public non-traded REITs and self-directed IRAs, which all have advantages and disadvantages. Understanding your goals and risk tolerance will help you make the best decision when investing in real estate investment trusts.

Image source: Depositphotos.com