Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) can be a strong addition to an income-focused portfolio, offering high dividend yields, professional asset management, and exposure to real estate without direct property ownership. However, their attractiveness depends heavily on macroeconomic variables like interest rate cycles, as rising interest rates can increase borrowing costs and make fixed-income alternatives more competitive. What is your investment time horizon, and how do REITs fit into your broader asset allocation strategy?