You like the idea of investing in real estate but becoming a landlord?

Maybe not.

Getting a call about a leaking toilet, dealing with tenants, coordinating contractors, and managing a property can quickly turn an “investment” into another job.

That is why many investors begin exploring more passive ways to invest in real estate.

Two common options are Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and real estate syndications.

Both provide exposure to real estate without requiring you to personally manage a property, but they work very differently.

Here are seven important differences to understand.

What Is a REIT?

A Real Estate Investment Trust, or REIT, is a company that owns, operates, or finances income-producing real estate.

REITs may specialize in apartment communities, industrial properties, data centers, healthcare facilities, shopping centers, self-storage facilities, hotels, or other sectors.

Many REITs trade on major stock exchanges, which makes them relatively easy for everyday investors to access.

When you purchase shares of a publicly traded REIT, however, you are purchasing shares of the company—not directly buying a specific apartment building.

A real estate syndication works differently.

Difference #1: What You Are Investing In

A REIT may own dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of properties across multiple markets.

That can provide significant diversification within one investment.

A real estate syndication is often centered around one specific property or portfolio of properties.

For example, you might invest in a 150-unit apartment community in Dallas.

Before investing, you can review information about that particular property, including:

• Location

• Purchase price

• Current occupancy

• Rental income

• Financing

• Renovation plan

• Market assumptions

• Projected hold period

• Sponsor's business plan

REIT: Exposure to a larger portfolio.

Syndication: Greater visibility into the specific asset or portfolio being acquired.

Difference #2: Ownership Structure

When you purchase shares of a REIT, you own shares in the company that owns or finances the real estate.

With many real estate syndications, investors purchase an interest in an entity—often an LLC or limited partnership—that owns the underlying property.

That distinction matters.

A syndication can provide investors with more direct economic exposure to the performance of a particular property, while a REIT investor's return is tied to the performance and market valuation of the REIT.

Difference #3: Access to the Investment

Publicly traded REITs are extremely accessible.

If you have a brokerage account, you can generally purchase REIT shares just as you would purchase other publicly traded stocks.

Private real estate syndications have different requirements.

Many syndications are offered through exemptions under Regulation D.

For example, Rule 506(b) offerings cannot use general solicitation or advertising and may include accredited investors and, subject to specific requirements, a limited number of sophisticated non-accredited investors.

Rule 506(c) offerings can generally be publicly advertised, but purchasers must be accredited investors and their accredited status must be reasonably verified.

Because syndications are private offerings, investors typically need to review offering documents, complete subscription paperwork, and fund their investment before participating.

Difference #4: Minimum Investment

One major advantage of publicly traded REITs is their low barrier to entry.

Because you are purchasing shares, you can potentially begin investing with a relatively small amount of capital.

Private real estate syndications typically require significantly more.

Minimum investments vary by offering and sponsor and might be:

• $25,000

• $50,000

• $100,000+

There is no universal minimum.

Investors should always review the specific offering documents before making an investment decision.

Difference #5: Liquidity

This may be one of the biggest differences.

Shares of publicly traded REITs can generally be bought and sold during normal market hours.

That provides investors with liquidity if they decide they want access to their capital.

Private real estate syndications are typically much less liquid.

A syndication may have a projected hold period of three, five, seven, or more years.

During that period, there may be limited or no ability to sell your investment.

That means investors should generally view money invested in a private syndication as long-term capital.

Neither structure is automatically better.

Liquidity can be valuable, but long-term private ownership may appeal to investors who do not need immediate access to their investment capital.

Difference #6: Tax Treatment

Real estate can provide unique tax considerations, but REITs and syndications are treated differently.

Private real estate investments structured as partnerships may pass certain income, gains, losses, and deductions through to investors using a Schedule K-1.

Depreciation and other deductions associated with the underlying property may affect an investor's taxable income from the investment.

However, this does not mean every passive investor can automatically use real estate losses to offset salary or other active income.

Passive activity, basis, at-risk, and other tax rules can limit how losses may be used.

REIT investors generally receive dividend reporting rather than the same direct partnership-level tax treatment.

The exact tax impact of either investment depends heavily on the individual investor's circumstances.

Always discuss the tax consequences of an investment with a qualified tax professional.

Difference #7: Return Profile

This is where investors need to be especially careful when comparing REITs and syndications.

There is no guaranteed return for either investment.

Publicly traded REIT returns are influenced by:

• Property performance

• Dividends

• Interest rates

• Economic conditions

• Investor sentiment

• Changes in the REIT's stock price

Because REITs trade publicly, their value can move daily even when the underlying properties have not materially changed.

Real estate syndication returns are generally tied more directly to the property's business plan.

Potential returns may come from:

• Property cash flow

• Rental growth

• Increased net operating income

• Principal reduction

• Appreciation

• Refinancing

• Proceeds when the property is eventually sold

Sponsors may provide projected returns such as preferred return, internal rate of return, average annual return, or equity multiple.

Those numbers are projections not promises.

Actual results depend on the property's performance, financing, market conditions, expenses, execution, and eventual exit.

REIT vs. Syndication: Which One Is Better?

Neither investment is automatically better.

They solve different problems.

A publicly traded REIT may make sense for someone who wants:

• A lower investment minimum

• Easy access through a brokerage account

• Greater liquidity

• Broad diversification

• Real estate exposure without selecting individual properties

A real estate syndication may appeal to someone who wants:

• Exposure to a specific property or portfolio

• Greater visibility into the investment's business plan

• A long-term private real estate investment

• Professional management without becoming a landlord

• Potential partnership-level tax treatment

You also do not necessarily have to choose one or the other.

Some investors use REITs as part of their liquid investment portfolio while also allocating capital to private real estate.

The Bigger Question

Instead of asking:

“Are REITs or syndications better?”

A better question may be:

“Which investment structure better fits my goals?”

Consider your available capital, liquidity needs, investment timeline, risk tolerance, tax situation, and how much visibility you want into the underlying real estate.

For busy professionals and business owners who want to participate in larger real estate investments without taking on the responsibilities of becoming a landlord, passive multifamily syndications are one option worth understanding.

At Diversified Equity Partners, our goal is to educate investors about how passive multifamily investing works so they can evaluate opportunities and determine whether they align with their individual goals.

Want to learn more about passive multifamily investing? Join the DEP Investor List by clicking this link to receive educational resources and learn about future opportunities.

Private real estate investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal and limited liquidity. Projected returns are not guaranteed. This article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered financial, legal, or tax advice.