There are several ways to invest in real estate, including buying physical properties, investing in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), or using crowdfunding platforms. For example, if you buy a rental property for $200,000 and charge $1,500 per month in rent, your gross annual income would be $18,000. This would give you a gross rental yield of 9% (calculated as $18,000 ÷ $200,000). However, you need to consider expenses like property taxes, maintenance, and insurance, which can significantly affect your net income.

A REIT is a company that owns or finances income-producing real estate. They allow individual investors to earn a share of the income produced through commercial real estate ownership without having to buy or manage properties themselves. REITs are typically traded on major exchanges like stocks, making them a liquid way to invest in real estate.