It's REIT Time, And You Can Buy Low

Many investors chase hot returns, buying assets that have recently performed well, but experts have long maintained that you'd be better off putting your money in sectors that are down in the dumps.

That's why it might make sense to take a look at real estate investment trusts — publicly traded investment pools that typically buy commercial properties such as shopping centers and medical buildings. Although REITs have outperformed stocks over the past decade, they have been slammed this year. One reason is that investors expect the market values of the underlying properties to go down. The subprime mortgage debacle and the housing downturn haven't helped.

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