5 Top Dividend Stocks in Residential REITs

Homeownership rates are the lowest they've been in a generation, and the trend toward more rental households isn't showing signs of slowing down. One smart way to invest in this is with residential real estate investment trusts, or REITs, which allow you to get the benefits of owning rental properties without the headaches that generally come with it. With that in mind, here are five top choices to help start your search.

AvalonBay Communities (NYSE:AVB) is an apartment REIT that specializes in high-barrier coastal markets, such as New York City, Washington D.C., and Southern California. Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR) is quite similar to AvalonBay. The two companies even focus on the same markets, which are rather unaffordable to many would-be homebuyers. As the name implies, American Campus Communities (NYSE:ACC) specializes in student housing communities, with a focus on upscale communities that are within walking distance to campus. American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE:AMH), which owns more than 48,000 single-family properties in 22 states, and maintains an occupancy rate of nearly 95%. Since the other two apartment REITs on this list are focused on high-barrier coastal markets, it may also be a good idea to check out Mid-America Apartment Communities (NYSE:MAA).

Source: Motley Fool

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