The misconception to Real Estate that people sometimes have is the assumption that you need large amounts of money to invest. The truth is that there are many options if you wish to invest.

One of the ways in which you can invest, is REITs.

About REITs:
REITS, short for Real Estate Investment Trusts, is typically a company that has purchased a large amount of real estate and owns and or manages the real estate for profit. Instead of buying hundreds of millions of dollars worth of buildings yourself, you are investing in the REIT.

Advantages and Drawbacks of REITS:
REITS  Advantages:

1) They are Liquid: By this I mean exactly like a stock you can sell it fairly easily. Unlike a condo or house you have bought, you do not physical own any assets, therefore if if you see the value of the REIT going up, you can sell it.
2) Diversification: The REIT  will own and or operate a multitude of buildings potentially across provinces in Canada and the world, giving you have a wider array of diversification, than owning a few condos or houses. The less exposure to just one market, the greater off you are.

REITs Drawbacks:

1) Control: As great as REITs are, you are not in control of the real estate, if you do not agree with a purchase or a sale of a building, you have very little control (as a small investor) over what happens.
2) Ownership: You do not own anything, with a REIT, you own the EFT like a stock, you do not own Scotia Place you own a tiny piece of for example, Morguard REIT that operates the building.

How to Get Started?
Intrigued? REITs can be purchased exactly like stocks through an ETF (Exchange Traded Fund), you can hold them in your (TFSA) Tax Free Savings Accounts, RRSP’s (Registered Retiring Savings Plans) and more investments.

Next Steps:
My advise is to always ask a financial adviser about it, however REITs is not something  typically an adviser will bring up, as they will generally stick to Mutual Funds, therefore do a bit of Research on your own and inquire into it; google REITs, breach the subject the next time your with your financial professional. If your ever in doubt, start with small amounts, and go from there.