REIT stands for real estate investment trust. REITs collective investments which pool investors money. By buying shares in a REIT, it allows you to invest in various types of property without the hassle of physically buying into bricks and mortar. The investment trust invests in properties which are then leased - sort of like buy-to-let but on a far bigger scale.

These trusts are already popular in other countries, such as the US, France, Australia and Japan.

REITs can be publicly or privately held - but what advantages can they have for you? Well, they can be huge...but do carry risks.

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