Do you need to be an accredited investor to invest in REITs?

What does being an accredited investor means?

There is no process of becoming an accredited investor. You don’t  need to apply for a license or pass a test to qualify as an accredited investor. Instead, your wealth or to be precise your annual income determines your accreditation. As per the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), to qualify as an accredited investor, an investor must have an individual income of more than $200k per year or a joint income of $300k. Many real estate investment structures accept only accredited investors and non-accredited investors can’t invest there.

What is Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)?

A Real Estate Investment Trust or REIT is a private trust that owns, and in most cases, operates income-producing real estates. REITs have large institutional-grade properties in their portfolio. Some REITs invest in the commercial sector, while some are inclined towards the healthcare sector. The majority of REITs lease spaces to tenants and receive rents on those properties. Whereas, some REITs lend money to real estate investors and  earn interests on the mortgages and mortgage-backed securities. With benefits akin to that of mutual fund investment, REIT investment offers a steady flow of income for a long time.

Do I need to be an accredited investor for investing in REITs?

No, you don’t need to be one. Any investor can invest in REITs irrespective of how much wealth they possess. You can invest in a REIT just like you invest in the stocks of other companies. The majority of REITs are listed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and trade on the National Stock Exchange. Shares of a REIT can be easily bought and sold on the National Stock Exchange. As a REIT’s shareholder, you’ll be subject to receive dividends like other shareholders.

What are the different types of REITs?

There are three major kinds of REITs where you can invest –

• Equity REITs – The majority of REITs are Equity REITs. These kinds of REITs works on a simple business model. They lease spaces to tenants and receive rents on those properties. The profit is then divided among shareholders.
• Mortgage REITs (mREITs) – Mortgage REITs function in an entirely different way. They lend money to real estate investors and earn interests on mortgages and mortgage-backed securities. The spread between the interest earned on the mortgages and the cost of financing the loan determines a Mortgage REIT’s profit.
• Hybrid REITs – As the name suggests, these kinds of REITs are a mixture of Equity and Mortgage REITs. Hybrid REITs lease spaces to tenants as well as invest in mortgages and mortgage-backed securities.

How to plan a REIT investment?

Though you can invest in a REIT with the help of a broker, you may want to consult your financial advisor or a REIT expert before that. As shares of a REIT can be bought and sold on the National Stock Exchange, a REIT investment is subject to market risks.