Updated September 2026. This is general education, not personalised financial advice.
A REIT is a traded investment, not a direct property purchase
A listed real estate investment trust pools investors' money in income-producing property and is traded through the securities market. Units can be more accessible and liquid than a direct building, but their price can move independently of the underlying property valuations.
Distributions are not guaranteed
MoneySense warns that distributions can fluctuate with rental income, occupancy, borrowing costs and refinancing conditions. A high historical distribution yield is not a promise of future income. Read the current MoneySense REIT guide.
Review the actual trust
- Property sector, geography and tenant concentration
- Occupancy, lease expiries and rental reversions
- Debt maturity, interest cost and refinancing exposure
- Manager, sponsor, fees and conflicts
- Unit-price valuation, distribution policy and land tenure
REITs can provide diversification and market liquidity, but they still carry market, income, leverage, concentration and lease-expiry risks. Read the prospectus and current announcements, and assess suitability against your time horizon and total portfolio.