Buying real estate is about more than just finding a place to call home. Investing in real estate has become increasingly popular over the last 50 years and has become a common investment vehicle.

Although the real estate market has plenty of opportunities for making big gains, buying and owning real estate is a lot more complicated than investing in stocks and bonds. In this article, we'll go beyond buying a home and introduce you to real estate as an investment.

PART 4 of 5:  REITs

Real estate has been around since our cave-dwelling ancestors started chasing strangers out of their space, so it's not surprising that Wall Street has found a way to turn real estate into a publicly-traded instrument.

A real estate investment trust (REIT) is created when a corporation (or trust) uses investors' money to purchase and operate income properties. REITs are bought and sold on the major exchanges, just like any other stock. A corporation must pay out 90% of its taxable profits in the form of dividends, to keep its status as an REIT. By doing this, REITs avoid paying corporate income tax, whereas a regular company would be taxed its profits and then have to decide whether or not to distribute its after-tax profits as dividends.

Much like regular dividend-paying stocks, REITs are a solid investment for stock market investors that want regular income. In comparison to the aforementioned types of real estate investment, REITs allow investors into non-residential investments such as malls or office buildings and are highly liquid. In other words, you won't need a realtor to help you cash out your investment.

​SOURCE:  http://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/06/realestateinvest.asp

919 Realty and Homeside are teaming up to offer this amazing grant program to first time home buyers and hometown heroes (Police, Firefighters, Educators, Veterans, Healthcare Workers).  The program flyer is below.

This grant program is amazing, offering up to $7,500 in free money to assist in closing cost, and even paying down your principal in some cases.  Imagine stepping into a home you have equity in before even living in it!  

For more information on this incredible program, click the button below.