Ali Ata: You Can Invest in Real Estate without Owning Property
If there’s anything Ali Ata has learned from years of talking to prospective clients, it’s that Americans favor real estate over other types of long-term investments. The cost of investing in real estate, however, remains prohibitive for many people. The good news is that there are ways to cash in on real estate without actually having to bother with the upfront and maintenance costs of owning property. You have three options: 1. A real estate investment trust (REIT) is a company that operates income-generating properties. You can buy shares in a REIT, upon which case you will become a landowner of sorts and will be entitled to a portion of the income the company earns. There are REITs that operate a diverse selection of properties while others tend to specialize in specific types of real estate. 2. Real estate mutual funds are a collection of real estate investments, including REITs, that you and other investors can put your money in. The beauty of this particular investment veh...