Investing in a real estate investment trust (REIT) is similar to investing in any corporate stock. You can obtain shares in REITs from the same sources you might visit to acquire corporate stock—investment brokers or other financial services centers.

In addition, you can buy shares in mutual funds that invest in REITs. The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT) lists on its Website more than 50 mutual funds that invest in REITs: www.reit.com. This list includes a number of no-load funds and provides complete contact information for all funds listed.

The Association's Website also provides much other useful information to investors who are in the process of selecting a particular REIT investment. For instance, it offers several historical reports of REIT performance by sector (healthcare, industrial/office, retail, etc.). A real-time market index reports current returns for equity REITs and all REITs.

Besides online, you can contact the NAREIT by mail or phone: