7 Reasons Why You Should Invest in REITs
Real estate investment trusts, or REITs, are a great way to invest in the real estate market without purchasing and managing the property yourself. In this blog post, we will discuss seven reasons why you should consider investing in REITs.
Care Free Real Estate Investing
One of the biggest advantages of investing in REITs is that it is a care-free way to invest in real estate. When you purchase a property, you are responsible for its upkeep, management, and any repairs or renovations needed. With a REIT, the property management company takes on all of those responsibilities, freeing up your time and energy.
Diversification
Another reason to invest in REITs is for diversification purposes. You can spread your risk and exposure to different asset classes by including REITs in your investment portfolio. This will help protect your portfolio from sudden changes or downturns in the real estate market.
Passive Income Potential
REITs can provide you with a steady stream of passive income. This is because REITs are required to distribute at least 90% of their taxable income to shareholders in the form of dividends. This can provide a great way to generate income without actively working for it.
Higher Returns Than Many Other Assets
Investing in REITs has historically yielded higher returns than many other assets, such as bonds and some types of stocks. In fact, over the past 20 years, REITs have outperformed the S&P 500 by a wide margin while also paying out a higher than average dividend than the S&P 500
Unique Opportunities
REITs can be segmented into different sections of the real estate market that are hard for a typical to invest in. For example, you can invest in healthcare REITs, which focus on investing in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. This gives investors opportunities to invest in areas of the real estate market to which they may not have had access.
Less Liability
Owning real estate individually can open an investor up to liability risks. For example, you could be held liable if someone is injured on your property. However, when you invest in a REIT, the REIT management company deals with these risks, shielding you from any potential legal problems. If they get sued, your investment may be in trouble, but at least you aren’t personally liable for anything.
Tax Benefits
Investing in REITs can also provide you with some tax benefits. In particular, dividends paid out by REITs are generally taxed at a lower rate than regular income. This can help you save money come tax time.
As you can see, there are many reasons why investing in REITs can be a smart move for investors. REITs may be the right investment if you’re looking for a way to invest in real estate without all the hassle and liability that comes with owning property.
The Downside of REIT Investing
While there are many advantages to investing in REITs, there are also some disadvantages that you should be aware of. One of the most significant disadvantages is that you will likely have less control over your investment than if you owned the property directly. For example, you will not be able to make any changes or renovations to the property without the approval of the REIT management company.
Another downside of REIT investing is that your dividends may be subject to fluctuation. This fluctuation is because dividend payments are directly tied to the profitability of the REIT, which can fluctuate from year to year.
Finally, it’s important to remember that, like any other investment, there is always a risk that you could lose money by investing in REITs.
REITs vs Crowdfunding
What is the difference between a REIT and a crowdfunding platform like Fundrise?
The main difference is that with a REIT, you’re investing in a company that owns and operates real estate properties, while crowdfunding platforms like Fundrise invest directly in the real estate property itself.
Another key difference is that REITs must distribute at least 90% of their taxable income to shareholders through dividends. In contrast, with crowdfunding platforms, there are no such requirements. This means that your dividend payments from a REIT may be more reliable than those from a crowdfunding platform.
Finally, it’s important to remember that REITs are traded on major stock exchanges and can be bought and sold just like any other stock. In contrast, investments in crowdfunding platforms are not publicly traded and can only be sold back to the platform itself.
So, which is better – investing in a REIT or investing in a crowdfunding platform?
There is no easy answer to this question. It depends on your specific investment goals and objectives.
If you’re looking for a more hands-off investment with the potential for high dividends, then a REIT may be right for you. However, if you’re looking for more control over your investment and are willing to accept more risk in exchange for the chance of higher returns, then investing in a crowdfunding platform may be a better option.
Investing in real estate can be a great way to earn Passive Income and build long-term wealth. And while there are many different ways to invest in real estate, one option you may want to consider is investing in REITs. In this article, we’ll discuss seven reasons why investing in REITs can be a smart move for investors.
Myths About REITs
Before diving into why you should invest in REITs, let’s first dispel some common myths about REITs.
REIT Myth # 1
One common myth about REITs is that they are only for wealthy investors. This simply isn’t true. Anyone can buy shares of a REIT, just like they can with any other publicly traded company. In fact, many people choose to invest in REITs through their retirement accounts, such as a 401(k) or IRA.
REIT Myth # 2
Another myth about REITs is that they are risky investments. While all investments come with some degree of risk, REITs tend to be less risky than other real estate investments. This is because REITs are required by law to distribute at least 90% of their taxable income to shareholders, which helps to minimize the chance of loss.
In Conclusion
REITs are a good investment for many reasons. First, they offer investors the chance to earn passive income through dividends. Second, they provide a hands-off investment that is relatively low risk. And third, they can be bought and sold just like any other stock on major exchanges. So if you’re looking for a way to invest in real estate and generate passive income, REITs may be a good option.
