10 Best Paying Jobs In Real Estate Investment Trusts (2024)

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Are you thinking of working in the real estate industry? If so, today is the day that you will be learning about the best-paying jobs in real estate investment trusts (REITs).

Global real estate is a relatively new yet exciting asset class that people nowadays consider investing in. Investment opportunities for additional cash flows are a necessity when you are planning for your financial goals.

Real estate investing is a prime investment strategy, especially when the market conditions are right. Owning real estate, property management, or becoming a real estate investor are not only the options you have for a real estate-related income stream.

There are investment strategies relating to real estate that can increase your portfolios.

Get to know here what and why real estate investment jobs will help you with your financial needs. We will also get to know why most investors are hooked on this as part of their investment portfolio.

Table of Contents show

What Is a Real Estate Investment Trust?

Real Estate Investment Trusts, known as REITs, are companies owning and managing real estate. They handle different real estate assets, such as shopping centers, hotels, office buildings, warehouses, and commercial forests.

In the United States, there are a total of $3.5 trillion in assets owned by REITs. These companies produce income from real estate properties, which they have to pay the investors in return.

There are some instances that real estate investment trusts do financing estate, too. Real estate investment trusts are the same as investing in stocks, but with REITs, investors can vest valuable assets and have a chance to receive a stable shared income.

This is why many people are into real estate investments as the perfect way of expanding passive income streams. These commodities and the possibility for high yields attract people to invest in real estate.

Are you looking for investments that are safe with high returns? Then real estate investment trusts are what you are looking for!

Different Types of Real Estate Investment Trust

Now that you have understood more about real estate investments, look at these different types of REITs you can invest in. Each one of them generates income via rent collection, residential sales, or mortgages.

Debt Real Estate Investments Trust

Debt-oriented REITs are organizations that provide money to customers who want to buy real estate properties. This is similar to lending companies as it gives the purchaser debts, and in return, they have to pay the loan interest.

This type of investment income comes from the monthly interest fee from the loan. The only downside of this investment is the possibility of being tricked. A lot of buyers delay their payment, or some just walk out without paying interest.

Equitability Real Estate Investments Trusts

Equitability REITs are investments made in sectors such as apartments, residential real estate, shops, markets, and resorts. Once the proposal is approved, the real estate investment trusts establish, supervise, and build the hub.

After that, REITs will pay the investors a percentage of the profit received. The income from the investments as a whole serves as the entire earnings of the REITs and will be divided based on the agreement.

Medical-Oriented Real Estate Investments Trusts

Medical-oriented REITs invest in properties like multi-specialty clinics, research facilities, or healthcare buildings. It’s hard to imagine that this one will fail because they are currently in high demand.

10 Best Paying Jobs In Real Estate Investment Trusts (1)

The requirement for hospitals is increasing. Laboratories, specific tests, and nursing homes also have their own needs. So, it’s safe to say that investing in the medical sector will earn you profit and definitely let your business develop.

Merchandise Real Estate Investment Trust

Merchandise investments are retail shops and markets, such as department stores, shopping malls, supermarkets, and other centers.

However, REITs will not be managing or producing these. Instead, they give the purchaser debts and collect their profits from the retail shops and market owners.

Domestic Real Estate Investments Trust

This REIT will start with creating housing, apartments, large-scale communities, complex centers, and more. When talking about domestic REITs, these are some of the major responsibilities of the REITs.

No matter what field, both land and property businesses will not experience downfalls, as each sector handled by a real estate investment trust is a good career choice. What are you waiting for? Invest and climb your way to financial success and independence.

Real Estate Investment Trusts Job Functions

Real estate investment trusts have a wide range of job functions that reach back offices, operation roles, dealing with customers, and many more. Each of these departments is available in REITs.

When you sum it up, REITs are simple, they raise money from investors to establish or purchase properties, and in return, they will maximize the cash flow for investors.

11 Best Paying Jobs In Real Estate Investment Trust

Let’s move on to the different types of jobs in REITs. There are actually a lot of them, but we have picked the 10 best-paying jobs in real estate investment trusts that you will enjoy doing.

1. Real Estate Broker

We are all familiar with real estate brokers, and they are the ones who are good at negotiating properties. This is a good-paying job in the REIT sector.

Remember that working as a broker is not the same as working as an agent. Brokers have a license and, most of all, have passed the standard qualification test. They specialized and were given certificates that let them work solely or together with the agents.

If you want, you can study for more to reach a higher position or build your own office. Brokers have a six-figure salary, and they are well worth their fee with their skills and techniques.

2. Real Estate Agent

Real estate agents are one of the jobs in the real estate industry that continue to grow. They involve assisting people in purchasing a house or selling real estate properties.

Agents that deal with residential properties connect buyers and sellers and act as a medium. Some agents specialize in residential properties, while other agents know more about commercial ones. These properties are houses, condo units, beach houses, and many more.

As for the agents that deal with commercial properties, they also connect buyers and sellers. The properties in this section are shopping malls, hotels, warehouses, rental apartments, etc.

Do not be confused with real estate brokers and agents. They are entirely different things. As mentioned above, real estate brokers are licensed, have completed additional training, and can work independently and hire other agents to work for them. Real estate agents, meanwhile, have a professional license and usually work for a brokerage firm.

3. Real Estate Investors

10 Best Paying Jobs In Real Estate Investment Trusts (2)

Investors are one of the real estate investment trust jobs that not everyone would willingly work for. Real estate investors’ responsibilities require purchasing assets and adding more value to the properties before selling them at a higher price.

It’s pretty simple, right? It can be the most profitable career job in this field. But it takes time, patience, and skills to make it work. To do it, you will have to know about when to buy, where to buy, and when to sell.

That means you have to be sharp in researching the market and following trends. If this is for you, here are some of the requirements you should have:

  • Willingness to take risks.
  • Hunger for knowledge about the real estate investment industry.
  • Ability to adapt different strategies in buying and selling various properties.

4. Acquisition

An acquisition function in real estate is sourcing new investment opportunities and seizing the deal to the end. If you’re into acquisitions, you have to be well-prepared because this type of job also means numbers are involved.

You should have a degree or experience in capital markets, marketing, finance, or general business to apply for this position. An acquirer mostly comes from being an analyst and earning around $80,000.

The advancement from analyst goes up from an associate to a manager, then to vice president. However, it usually depends on the firm you are working for, and you can earn money up to $200,000 as a vice president of acquisitions.

5. Development

A job of a developer is to be in charge of building new properties completely. This is a project that has management and works together with other functions to realize the property development.

You’ll also be working with the contractor and subcontractors for design, styles, and project construction. Depending on the REIT, a development job will earn you up to 6 figures, the same as a vice president of construction at REITs.

Plus, when you’re a developer you also have the opportunity to see firsthand what the opportunities are of real estate arbitrage overseas. When you want to learn about other money-making opportunities, you may want to learn more about other income streams like peer-to-peer lending.

6. Real Estate Investment Trusts Analyst Jobs

Another one of the best-paying jobs in real estate investment trusts is an analyst. An analyst helps the real estate and finance team in the acquisition, disposition, marketing, and financing of properties.

They assist in researching, analyzing data, and monitoring the real estate market, allowing the company to make wise decisions and plans in buying properties.

A REIT requires running financial models on the company’s current assets and purchases, using different types of financial tools.

Here are several requirements if you wish to apply as an analyst in REITs:

  • Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, or real estate
  • Analytical skills
  • Organizational skills
  • Research skills
  • Experience in managing programs, reports, and other workloads
  • Adequate knowledge of financing, local property markets, and more

7. Relations Consultant

A relations consultant is the job that most people want because these REIT jobs have a high salary. It is considered the best choice of career for enthusiastic people.

Their responsibilities are communicating with inventors and looking for potential projects to take on.

Their work focuses on the relationship with stockholders, making investment reports, and setting up teams for meetings and workshops.

8. Asset Management

The asset management function oversees the operational and financial work of the portfolio of assets within the REITs.

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The vice president or the senior vice president is usually present and guides the asset managers. This collaborative function works together with the accounting, acquisitions, development, and finance departments to reach targets while relying on REIT regulations.

If you want to achieve the position of vice president of asset management, you will have to have an undergraduate degree with a 10-year of experience in this industry. With this role, you can expect a pay of $250,000 annually.

9. Real Estate Property Appraiser

A real estate property appraiser is well-trained to appraise and determine the worth of a property. It can be either a residential or commercial property. Identifying the value of a property depends on the market and other economic factors.

To become a property appraiser, you are required to have a license and must have a proper education in appraiser courses and pass.

Educational background is important, and it must be in economics, finance, real estate, and other related courses. Appraisers earn more or less $53,000 annually, so this is for you if you are looking for a company job that pays high.

10. Real Estate Attorney Jobs

Another excellent paying job in real estate investments is to be an attorney. Their work involves settling different disputes in property ownership and transfers. It can be the issuance of titles, transferring, documentation, or other legal issues concerning real estate properties.

Attorneys play a major role in REITs. They act as mediators between the buyers, sellers, and the company. Plus, they provide legal guidance to both buyers and sellers. That will ensure that both parties will follow the essential guidelines for any real estate transaction and prevent disputes.

Attorney’s annual salary ranges from $119,000 to $125,000.

11. Property Manager

Property managers oversee the day-to-day operations of rental properties. They handle everything from searching and screening tenants to keeping the property and collecting rent.

The best thing about being a property manager is that you don’t have to have a degree, and you can start this job anytime. All you need are people skills, being able to stay organized, and you’ll be on track to making six figures a year.

Benefits Of Real Estate Investment Trust

Why would I want to work in real estate investment trusts (REITs)? With REITs, you get to experience safe investments, a higher rate of success, and the satisfaction of making profits.

Real estate investment trusts are composed of an experienced team in management, purchases, and establishing commercial real estate.

Here are some benefits of working at a real estate investment trust company:

  • Multiformity – REITs believe in diversification. Instead of investing all their funds in one sector, they spread it out.
  • Returns Through Dividends – Through the equity stocks, the management will decide whether to pay the investors through dividends or reinvest the earnings back into the company. REITs lay 90% of the profits to the investors.
  • Clarity – REITs’ investment processes will be executed by maintaining a proper way in front of the investors. They have sustained their reliability towards their investors by doing funding with proper paperwork and legal ways.
  • Returns Through Appreciation – Although it’s difficult to come across price rises of stocks in the market, REITs did a good job in the long-term appreciation of real estate properties. While the short-term fluctuates typically, its interest rates will not affect commercial real estate.
  • Low Volatility And Low Correlation – Income from rentals and management expenses can be predicted with just the short and long-term analysis. An analyst can anticipate the work of REITs more easily than stocks that are not that predictable.
    REITs do not commonly act the same as equity stock or bonds. Their prices perform with low correlation and are very helpful for portfolio diversification.

Conclusion – Best Paying Jobs In Real Estate Investment Trusts

The real estate industry is large and rapidly growing without showing signs of slowing down. There will always be tenants looking for a house to live in, an entrepreneur trying to find an office complex for their business, or a corporation looking for a building to house their employees.

REITs have risen to manage all the invested money from many investors since its inception. This is a real investment with a real money-market value to increase your net worth.

If you want to buy a property, you can apply for many jobs to make the money you need, from an appraiser to an agent, an analyst, or an attorney. Working at a REIT will give you the necessary knowledge you need to reach your financial goals.

10 Best Paying Jobs In Real Estate Investment Trusts (4)

Marjolein Dilven

Founder of Spark Nomad, Radical FIRE, Journalist

Expertise: Personal finance and travel content
Education: Bachelor of Economics at Radboud University, Master in Finance at Radboud University, Minor in Economics at Chapman University.
Over 200 articles, essays, and short stories published across the web.

Experience: Marjolein Dilven is a journalist and founder of Radical FIRE, a personal finance platform, and Spark Nomad, a travel platform. Marjolein has a finance and economics background with a master’s in Finance. She has quit her job to travel the world, documenting her travels on Spark Nomad to help people plan their travels. Marjolein Dilven has written for publications like MSN, Associated Press, CNBC, Town News syndicate, and more.

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10 Best Paying Jobs In Real Estate Investment Trusts (2024)

FAQs

What is the highest paying REIT? ›

Best REITs by total return
Company (ticker)5-year total returnDividend yield
Equinix (EQIX)125.0%2.1%
Prologis (PLD)121.8%2.6%
Eastgroup Properties (EGP)107.9%2.8%
Gaming and Leisure Properties (GLPI)99.7%6.0%
4 more rows
Jan 16, 2024

What position in real estate makes the most money? ›

Top 10 Highest Paying Real Estate Jobs (Inc Salaries)
  • Real Estate Broker. ...
  • Commercial Real Estate Sales Agent. ...
  • Real Estate Attorney. ...
  • Residential Real Estate Sales Agent. ...
  • Real Estate Developer. ...
  • Mortgage Loan Officer. ...
  • Real Estate Asset Manager. ...
  • Commercial Leasing Manager.
Apr 20, 2024

Can you make a lot of money at a REIT? ›

REITs' average return

Return a minimum of 90% of taxable income in the form of shareholder dividends each year. This is a big draw for investor interest in REITs. Invest at least 75% of total assets in real estate or cash.

Do REITs pay well? ›

Since REITs return at least 90% of their taxable income to shareholders, they usually offer a higher yield relative to the rest of the market. REITs pay their shareholders through dividends, which are cash payments from corporations to their investors.

What are the top 5 largest REITs? ›

Largest Real-Estate-Investment-Trusts by market cap
#NameM. Cap
1Prologis 1PLD$94.48 B
2American Tower 2AMT$80.11 B
3Equinix 3EQIX$67.48 B
4Welltower 4WELL$56.31 B
57 more rows

What is the 90% rule for REITs? ›

How to Qualify as a REIT? To qualify as a REIT, a company must have the bulk of its assets and income connected to real estate investment and must distribute at least 90 percent of its taxable income to shareholders annually in the form of dividends.

What type of real estate is most profitable? ›

Here are the five most profitable real Estate ventures and the key factors and trends contributing to their success.
  1. Residential Real Estate Development. ...
  2. Commercial Real Estate Investment. ...
  3. Real Estate Crowdfunding. ...
  4. Real Estate Technology ( PropTech) ...
  5. Short-Term Rentals and Vacation Properties.
Dec 28, 2023

Are most millionaires real estate agents? ›

Out of the 250 top producing agents identified in the Real Trends survey, the following percentages of agents are found in the following five states: California: 44% New York State: 24% Florida: 7%

What are the highest paying jobs in finance? ›

The top 5 highest paying jobs in finance are investment banking, hedge fund management, CFO roles, private equity, and actuarial positions. These careers typically offer substantial salaries and the potential for significant bonuses.

Can you become a millionaire from REITs? ›

So, are REITs the magic shortcut to becoming a millionaire? Not quite. But they can be a powerful tool to build your wealth over time, like a slow and steady rocket taking you towards financial freedom.

Which REIT has the best returns? ›

8 Best High-Yield REITs to Buy
REITForward dividend yield
Blackstone Mortgage Trust Inc. (BXMT)12.1%
KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. (KREF)13.5%
Easterly Government Properties Inc. (DEA)8.3%
Realty Income Corp. (O)5.5%
4 more rows
Jan 24, 2024

Does a REIT pay monthly? ›

For investors seeking a steady stream of monthly income, real estate investment trusts (REITs) that pay dividends on a monthly basis emerge as a compelling financial strategy. In this article, we unravel two REITs that pay monthly dividends and have yields up to 8%.

What are the highest paying REITs? ›

The market's highest-yielding REITs
Company (ticker symbol)SectorDividend yield
KKR Real Estate Finance Trust (KREF)Mortgage14.0%
Two Harbors Investment (TWO)Mortgage14.0%
Ares Commercial Real Estate (ACRE)Mortgage13.8%
Brandywine Realty Trust (BDN)Office13.6%
7 more rows
Feb 28, 2024

Can you live off REITs? ›

Reinvesting REIT dividends can help retirement savers grow their portfolio's investment, and historically steady REIT dividend income can help retirees meet their living expenses. REIT dividends historically have provided: Wealth Accumulation. Reliable Income Returns.

How to build passive income with REITs? ›

How Do You Make Money on a REIT? Since REITs are required by the IRS to pay out 90% of their taxable income to shareholders, REIT dividends are often much higher than the average stock on the S&P 500. One of the best ways to receive passive income from REITs is through the compounding of these high-yield dividends.

Which REIT pays monthly dividends? ›

The Top 10 list of companies that have paid monthly dividends in 2022 includes ARMOUR Residential REIT, Inc., Orchid Island Capital, Inc., AGNC Investment Corp., Oxford Square Capital Corp., Ellington Residential Mortgage REIT, SLR Investment Corp., PennantPark Floating Rate Capital Ltd., Main Street Capital ...

What is the average payout for a REIT? ›

12, publicly traded U.S. equity REITs posted a 1-year average dividend yield of 4.09%, according to S&P. As of Dec. 12, 2023 publicly traded U.S. equity REITs posted a one-year average dividend yield of 4.09 percent.

What is the highest paying monthly dividend? ›

Table Of Contents
  • High-Yield Monthly Dividend Stock #4: Ellington Real Estate Investment Trust (EARN)
  • High-Yield Monthly Dividend Stock #3: ARMOUR Residential REIT (ARR)
  • High-Yield Monthly Dividend Stock #2: AGNC Investment Corporation (AGNC)
  • High-Yield Monthly Dividend Stock #1: Orchid Island Capital (ORC)

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