THR the rise of real estate investment trusts (REITs)
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are companies that primarily focus on owning, operating, or financing income-producing real estate. An investor can earn income from the real estate in a REIT by buying a share, without having to directly buy, manage, or finance properties themselves. Most REITs are publicly traded on major stock exchanges; however, some are private, and open only to certain investors.