Previously, the concept of a REIT was discussed and demonstrated as a great way to invest one’s money with the hopes of ensuring a return on the investment. While there are risks with any investments, the upside was much greater than the downside for REIT investing. This is gaining momentum in the financial industry, as Warren Buffett recently became the 3rd largest shareholder in the Arizona-based REIT, Store (STOR). Store’s portfolio does not consist of standard shopping malls. Instead it involves properties which require tenants to be more financial involved in their units by doing things such as paying the taxes and maintenance, while also diversifying itself into more specialized stores that are much harder to take down through online shopping.
Investing in apartment buildings could be a very wise investment because of the trajectory of cities right now, as apartment buildings are becoming more and more popular due to cities becoming more focused on being urban. This is especially true for Pittsburgh, with new apartment buildings being built in popular and rising areas such as South Side and East Liberty. There is a multitude of different REITs to invest in which target specific properties. In the apartment division of real estate, investing in Preferred Apartment Communities (APTS) might be advisable. It is on a solid upward trend, with its first quarter revenues up by nearly 60%.
A forward thinker might look to the future to try and get in on a stock early. The senior citizen age bracket is expected to double in the next 30 years, meaning that demand will soon be incredibly high, making Welltower, Inc (HCN) a very intriguing investment, as they specialize in fields such as senior housing and assisted living. The technology sector is also rising, so the companies which own warehouses are making money hand over fist due to the incredibly high demand for companies to have an ideal working environment. The opportunities are out there to make money in the stock market, and diversifying oneself in a REIT could be a good defensive move to essentially hedge your bets, because of the steady return offered in a REIT.
