In the latest segment of the National Association of REALTORS® Real Estate Today Radio, Illinois REALTORS® President-elect Dan Wagner explains why Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are good investments.

“Real Estate Investment Trusts are the vehicle for Main Street America to invest in commercial grade properties,” says Wagner.  Anyone can invest in a publicly traded REIT or they can use the services of a financial planner. They do not have to become a landlord to invest in real estate.

It’s important to diversify between retail, multi-family residential and medical offices, he says, and to view REITs as long-term investments to mitigate risk because their values can go up and down.

“It just makes sense to be safe,” says Wagner. “People have really benefitted a great deal and have grown their wealth quite substantially with having REITs in their portfolio.”

Wagner is the senior vice president of government relations for the Oak Brook-based Inland Real Estate Group of Companies, one of the nation’s largest commercial real estate and finance organizations. He spoke during the segment titled, “How to Invest in Real Estate.”

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