Creating a well rounded investment strategy isn’t too different from making a nutritionally balanced meal. Like a healthy plate chock full of grains, greens, fruits, and protein, an investment strategy including a little bit of everything means an investor won’t miss out on a single food group.
While having a diversified portfolio can’t eliminate risk, it can help mitigate it. To use another food metaphor, diversification is the investment equivalent of not putting all eggs in a single basket.
Think of REITs as just one part of an investor’s balanced investment diet. Like any investment (or food group, come to think of it), too much of one thing could mean too much risk, not enough diversification. On the other hand, ignoring an investment category entirely could mean missing out on future earnings.
So, what are REITs, and what makes them a good (and bad) investment?
What are REITs?
Once an investor has a well-planned budget, emergency savings, and retirement investments, oftentimes they’re ready for more portfolio diversification. For some, that might mean trying their hand in an investment property.
But, an investment property requires lots of time and upfront cash. It means buying a property and potentially fixing it up, before renting it out for additional income. But, the costs and responsibility of becoming a landlord might not be appealing to everyone, even after factoring in the income from monthly rent checks.
For those looking for a less hands-on approach to investing in the real estate world, look no further than REITs. A REIT is a Real Estate Investment Trusts . While developing and operating a real estate venture is out of the realm of reality for some, REITs make it possible for people to become investors in large scale construction or other real estate projects. With a REIT, an investor buys into a piece of a real estate venture, not the whole thing. There’s less responsibility and pressure on the shareholder, when compared to purchasing an investment property.
When a person invests in a REIT, they’re investing in a real estate company that owns and operates anything from malls, office complexes, warehouses, apartment buildings, mortgages, and more. It’s a way for someone to add real estate investments to their portfolio, without actually developing real estate.
Many, but not all, REITs are registered with the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) and can be found on the stock market where they’re publicly traded. Investors can also buy REITs that are registered with the SEC but are not publicly traded.
Non-traded REITs (aka, REITs that are not publicly traded) can’t be found on NASDAQ or the stock exchange. They’re traded on the secondary market between brokers which can make trading them a bit more challenging. To put it simply, this class of REITs has a whole different list of risks specific to its type of investing.
Non-traded REITs make for some pretty advanced investing, and for this reason, the rest of this article will discuss publicly-traded REITs.
Types of REITs
Real Estate Investment Trusts broadly fall into two categories :
• Mortgage REITs. These REITs can specialize in commercial or residential, or a mix of both. When an investor purchases Mortgage REITs, they’re investing in mortgage and mortgage-backed securities that in turn invest in commercial and residential projects. Think of it as taking a step back from directly investing in real estate.
• Equity REITs. These REITs often mean someone’s investing in a specific type of property. There are diversified equity REITs, but there are are specialized ones, including:
◦ Apartment and lodging
◦ Healthcare
◦ Hotels
◦ Officies
◦ Self-storage
◦ Retail
Pros of Investing in REITs
Investing in REITs can have several benefits, such as:
• Diversity. A diverse portfolio can reduce an investor’s risk because money is spread across different assets and industries. Investing in a REIT can help diversify a person’s investment portfolio. REITs aren’t stocks, bonds, or money markets, but a class unto their own.
• Dividends. Legally, REITs are required by law to pay at least 90% of their income in dividends. The REIT’s management can decide to pay out more than 90%, but they can’t drop below that percentage. Earning consistent dividends can be a compelling reason for investors to get involved with REITs.
• Zero corporate tax. Hand in hand with the 90% payout rule, REITs get a significant tax advantage—they don’t have to pay a corporate tax . To put it in perspective, many dividend stocks pay taxes twice; once corporately, and again for the individual. Not having to pay a corporate tax can mean a higher payout for investors.
• Tangibility. Unlike other investments, REITs are investments in physical pieces of property . Those tangible assets can increase in value over time. Being able to “see” an investment can also put some people at ease—it’s not simply a piece of paper or a slice of a company.
• Liquidity. Compared to buying an investment property, investing in REITs is relatively liquid . It takes much less time to buy and sell a REIT than it does a rental property. Selling REITs takes the lick of a button, no FOR SALE sign required.
Compared to other real estate investment opportunities, REITs are relatively simple to invest in and don’t require some of the legwork an investment property would take.
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Cons of Investing in REITs
No investment is risk-free, REITS included. Here’s what investors should keep in mind before diving into REITs:
• Taxes on dividends. REITs don’t have to pay a corporate tax, but the downside is that REIT dividends are typically taxed at a higher rate than other investments. Oftentimes, dividends are taxed at the same rate as long-term capital gains, which for many people, is generally lower than the rate at which their regular income is taxed. However, dividends paid from REITs don’t usually qualify for the capital gains rate. It’s more common that dividends from REITs are taxed at the same rate as a person’s ordinary income.
• Sensitive to interest rates. Investments are influenced by a variety of factors, but REITs can be hypersensitive to changes in interest rates. Rising interest rates can spell trouble for the price of REIT stocks. Generally, the value of REITs is inversely tied to the Treasury yield—so when the Treasury yield rises, the value of REITs are likely to fall.
• Value can be influenced by trends. Unlike other investments, REITs can fall prey to risks associated specifically with the property. For example, if a person invests in a REIT that’s specifically a portfolio of frozen yogurt shops in strip malls, they could see their investment take a hit if frozen yogurt or strip malls fall out of trend. While investments do fall prey to trends, REITs can be influenced by smaller trends, specific to the location or property type, that could be harder for an investor to notice.
• Plan for a long-term investment. Generally, REITs are better suited for long term investments, which can typically be thought of as those over five years. REITs are influenced by micro-changes in interest rates and other trends that can make them riskier for a short-term financial goal.
Are REITs a Risky Investment?
No investment is free of risk, and REITs come with risks and rewards specific to them. As mentioned above, they’re generally more sensitive fluctuations in interest rate, which have an inverse influence on their value.
Additionally, some REITs are riskier than others, and some are better suited to withstand economic declines than others. For example, a REIT in the healthcare or hospital space could be more recession-proof than a REIT with properties in retail or luxury hotels. This is because people will continue using real estate associated with healthcare spaces regardless of an economic recession, while luxury real estate may not experience continued demands during times of economic hardship.
Risks aside, REITs do pay dividends, which can be appealing to investors. While REITS are not without risk, they can be a strong part of an investor’s portfolio.
Investing in REITs
Investing in publicly traded REITS is as simple as purchasing stock in the market—simply purchase shares through a broker. Investors can also purchase REITs in a mutual fund.
Investing in a non-traded REIT is a little different. Investors will have to work with a broker that is part of the non-traded REITs offering. Not any old broker can help an investor get involved in non-traded REITs. A potential drawback of purchasing non-traded REITs are the high up-front fees. Investors can expect to pay fees, which include commission and fees, between 9 and 10% of the entire investment.
Start Investing With SoFi
Investing in REITs can be a healthy part of a person’s financial diet. They carry risks, but also benefits that might make them a great addition to an investor’s plan. One thing is for certain—the act of investing in REITs shouldn’t be a challenge.
That’s where SoFi Invest® comes in. From REITs to mutual funds and stocks, users can invest in a variety of assets, all within a single place. Investors can get started for as little as $1, and the process can be as hands-on, or as automated, as each investor desires.
Want to dig even deeper? Make a one-on-one appointment with one of SoFi’s financial advisors—at no additional cost to SoFi Members. They can help investors build a budget, reach financial goals, or invest for the future.
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The information provided is not meant to provide investment or financial advice. Investment decisions should be based on an individual’s specific financial needs, goals and risk profile. SoFi can’t guarantee future financial performance. Advisory services offered through SoFi Wealth, LLC. SoFi Securities, LLC, member FINRA / SIPC . The umbrella term “SoFi Invest” refers to the three investment and trading platforms operated by Social Finance, Inc. and its affiliates (described below). Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of the platforms below.
Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.
Investment Risk: Diversification can help reduce some investment risk. It cannot guarantee profit, or fully protect in a down market.
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