In the global real estate and financial markets, the acronym REIT stands for Real Estate Investment Trust. A REIT is a specialized corporate entity or trust that owns, operates, or finances income-generating real estate across diverse sectors such as retail malls, apartment complexes, office buildings, healthcare facilities, and industrial warehouses. By law in many jurisdictions, REITs must distribute a major portion of their taxable income to shareholders as dividends, making them a popular vehicle for income-seeking investors.