In an uncertain market, real estate is a strong play \u2013 and you don\u2019t need to be the deed holder to get in the game.<\/p>\n
When you are the property owner, shifting real estate values, problem tenants, property maintenance and more can erode your margins.<\/p>\n
Real estate investment trusts, or REITs, do not have this limitation. They hold vast stores of different property types, much of it commercial. High-rise office buildings, malls, and more are represented \u2013 but that\u2019s not the best part.<\/p>\n
REITs are required to distribute 90% of the net earnings they receive, so you also get dividends. Plus, the returns on REITs can be higher than bonds or even some stocks.<\/p>\n
According to\u00a0Kiplinger<\/a>, \u201cThe average property REIT recently yielded 4.1%, well above the 2.4% yield of a 10-year Treasury bond and the 2% payout rate of Standard & Poor\u2019s 500-stock index.\u201d That is a significant difference, especially if you are an income investor.<\/p>\n But, that doesn\u2019t mean that all REITs are equally profitable.<\/p>\n Right now, there are roughly\u00a0165 different REITs\u00a0with market caps over $250 million in which you can invest. Here are seven of our favorite real estate investment options and why.<\/p>\nAmerican Tower (NYSE: AMT)<\/h2>\n