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So imagine owning some of the biggest malls, some of the biggest skyscrapers, some of the biggest commercial properties in South Africa without the hassle of even buying anything on your own. Now if this sounds good, this is exactly what a real estate investment trust is also known as a REIT. So what exactly is a REIT? A REIT is basically a company that owns, finances and operates real estate. Not just any real estate, income-producing real estate. And instead of you buying the properties directly, you just buy shares in a REIT, just like you would in a stock. Now what does this get you? You basically get access to the rental income and the capital appreciation over time, also known as the capital growth. Similar to owning a property minus the landlord headaches. Now here are some reasons why REITs are a great investment for people today. So the first one, diversification. With a REIT, you not limit to two specific properties or one or two properties. You gain exposure to a wide range of properties, a wide range of industries as well. From commercial spaces to shopping malls to parking lots, to healthcare facilities, to warehouses, the list can go on and on. Now this spreads out your risk over various different investments. And again, you don't need millions to start out doing this. Which is a few hundred and a few thousand. You can buy into the REIT and start benefiting from the real estate industry. The second way is you get regular income. So REITs are also known to be a very reliable source of income. By law, most REITs are required to pay out at least 90% of their taxable income to their shareholders. This means investors receive regular dividend payments. And this makes REITs a very solid choice when it comes to investing. The third reason is inflation protection. With inflation on the rise, real estate is probably one of the most solid investments without the risk that you have to take on. As property values increase and rental income increases, so does your REIT income also increase. This helps your investments stay up to date with the rising costs of inflation. And the fourth reason is liquidity and flexibility. Unlike a normal property, REITs are traded on a stock exchange. You can buy and sell REITs very easily like any other shares. So when you're looking in today's market for an investment opportunity, you're looking at diversify your portfolio, looking at hedge against inflation, you're looking to lower your risk in terms of you not being involved in the property market directly. REITs provides a very reliable solution. They offer a way to benefit of the long-term growth of property that the high costs and complexities of actually owning real property. So whether you're looking at diversify or unpassive residual income, just protect yourself against inflation, REITs might actually be something you should consider in your portfolio today. Remember real estate is more accessible and you just need the right tools and information to get involved. And as always, if you like this type of content, please like, share, and don't forget to follow for more.