The average dividend yield provided by real estate investment trusts (REITs) varies significantly depending on the underlying property sector—such as retail, industrial, residential, office, or healthcare—with historical market averages generally hovering between 3.5% and 6.0%. Because REITs are legally mandated to distribute at least 90 percent of their taxable income to shareholders, they frequently offer substantially higher yields compared to broader equity market indices like the S&P 500.